pellet

1 of 2

noun

pel·​let ˈpe-lət How to pronounce pellet (audio)
1
a
: a usually small rounded, spherical, or cylindrical body (as of food or medicine)
b
: a wad of indigestible material (as of bones and fur) regurgitated by a bird of prey
2
: any of various projectiles fired from a weapon (such as an air rifle)
pelletal adjective

pellet

2 of 2

verb

pelleted; pelleting; pellets

transitive verb

1
2
: to strike with pellets

Examples of pellet in a Sentence

Noun the tightly packed pellets of a shotgun cartridge
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The resin comes in pellet and film form and is designed to mesh seamlessly with traditional plastic manufacturing systems. Jeff Kart, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Another option is to use Jiffy pellets to start your seeds. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2024 The pellets Breen administered were taken orally as a series and supplied by an out-of-state homeopath, the department said in a release. Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 18 Jan. 2024 As a condition of his release, he’s barred from possessing firearms other than airsoft guns — which usually shoot plastic pellets — used for active shooter training programs. David Ingram, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2024 Jeanette Breen, a licensed midwife who operated a clinic in Nassau County, gave thousands of the pellets to the children since 2019, the New York State Department of Health's Bureau of Investigations found, per a press release. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 18 Jan. 2024 Right now, Galicia is experiencing an environmental crisis due to a spill of pellets on the coasts, and no institution is taking responsibility. Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 18 Jan. 2024 To do this, the player can use a single power pellet (which makes the ghost edible for a short while) or the screen-wrapping tunnels on either side of the line (which the ghost can't use). Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024 Seconds later, white pellets appeared on a black background around his face. Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2024
Verb
Drawbacks: Testosterone pellets tenet to result in larger fluctuations in testosterone levels, require surgery to be replaced, and do not always result in optimal testosterone levels [12]. The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2023 The genius is in the replaceable head, where an aramid fiber pad is used to steam clean all types of grills ranging from gas to charcoal, to pellet grills and flat tops. John Thompson, Men's Health, 7 July 2023 NC State Veterinary Hospital recommends pelleted feed formulated specifically for chinchillas. Jo Yurcaba, Woman's Day, 23 Oct. 2019 Fill them with the tiny wood smoker pellets that look like rabbit feed to add a lengthy, thick smoke boost whenever it is needed. Chuck Blount, ExpressNews.com, 5 Aug. 2019 Spread a light layer of compost or pelleted seed establishment mulch over the new seed to help keep it moist. Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 10 July 2018 Snow pellets form when supercooled water droplets are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes. Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pellet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pelote, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *pilota, diminutive of Latin pila ball

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pellet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pellet

Cite this Entry

“Pellet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pellet. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pellet

noun
pel·​let
ˈpel-ət
1
a
: a little ball (as of food or medicine)
b
: a wad of material (as of bones and fur) that could not be digested and was regurgitated by a bird of prey (as an owl)
2
b
: a piece of small shot

Medical Definition

pellet

noun
pel·​let ˈpel-ət How to pronounce pellet (audio)
: a usually small rounded or spherical body
specifically : a small cylindrical or ovoid compressed mass (as of a hormone) that is implanted subcutaneously for slow absorption into bodily tissues

More from Merriam-Webster on pellet

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