From Middle English picche, piche, pich, from Old English piċ, from Proto-West Germanic *pik, from Latin pix. Cognate with Ancient Greek πίσσα (píssa, “pitch, tar”), Latin pīnus (“pine”). More at pine. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pik (“pitch, tar”), Dutch pek (“pitch, tar”), German Low German Pick (“pitch, tar”), German Pech (“pitch, tar”), Catalan pega (“pitch”), Spanish pegar (“to stick, glue”), Franco-Provençal pouatche (“sap from a pine”) and French poix (“sap”). The adjective is probably back-formed from pitch-black, reinterpreting "pitch" as meaning "intense(ly)".
Meanings
Very dark black; pitch-black.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:pitch.
(of a black color) Intense, deep, dark.
If you lose even once, that's it: The screen goes, like, the pitchest black ever, and you're [out]. 2013 February 26, Dale E. Basye, Snivel: The Fifth Circle of Heck, Yearling, →ISBN, page 162:
For some of us postpartum depression is the pitchest black we have ever known. From the dark womb we welcome new life, and our own new life, a life we haven't known, unfolds[…] 2016 August 30, Mandy Arioto, Starry-Eyed: Seeing Grace in the Unfolding Constellation of Life and Motherhood, Zondervan, →ISBN, page 19:
Then I got back here - difficulty again: no trolly-bus, and black pitcher than black - and have since been conning the Beveridge Report. 2008 July 15, Edward Morgan Forster, Christopher Isherwood, Letters Between Forster and Isherwood on Homosexuality and Literature, Palgrave MacMillan:
From Middle English picche, piche, pich, from Old English piċ, from Proto-West Germanic *pik, from Latin pix. Cognate with Ancient Greek πίσσα (píssa, “pitch, tar”), Latin pīnus (“pine”). More at pine. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pik (“pitch, tar”), Dutch pek (“pitch, tar”), German Low German Pick (“pitch, tar”), German Pech (“pitch, tar”), Catalan pega (“pitch”), Spanish pegar (“to stick, glue”), Franco-Provençal pouatche (“sap from a pine”) and French poix (“sap”). The adjective is probably back-formed from pitch-black, reinterpreting "pitch" as meaning "intense(ly)".
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees; tree sap.
It is hard to get this pitch off my hand.
(countable, uncountable) A sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees; tree sap. ▸ Anything similar to or derived from tree sap: resin; rosin.
(countable, uncountable) A dark, extremely viscous material still remaining after distilling crude oil or natural tar.
ca resina (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · la pix (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ro rășină (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · gl breu (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · it resina (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · hu szurok (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · no bek (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · oc resina (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · es galipote (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · it pece (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · bg смола́ (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · hy խեժ (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · tr karasakız (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · es brea (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · sk živica (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · gl piche (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · oc pega (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · izh pihka (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · pcd poé (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · fr brai (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · gd bìth (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · es zopisa (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · hy կուպր (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ota زفت (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · es galipote (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · pt seiva (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · nb bek (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ka კუპრი (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · gd teàrr (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · es pez (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · fi pihka (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · gl breu (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · pt pez (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · grc πίσσα (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · fa زیف (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · hu kátrány (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · sk smola (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · oc rosina (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · fr poix (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · ba сайыр (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · lld reja (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · hy ձյութ (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · vec pégoła (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · es zopisa (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · izh piki (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · he זפת (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · pl smoła (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · fa زفت (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · nv jeeh (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · pl smoła (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · gld нутэ (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · ba дегет (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · fr sève (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · fi piki (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · gl galipote (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · de Harz (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · de Pech (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · es brea (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · pl żywica (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · oc pega (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · it pece (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · mi tā (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ca brea (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · es resina (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · eo peĉo (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · ckb زِفت (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ca reïna (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · gl brea (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · pt breu (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ru пек (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ga pic (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · nl pek (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · sv beck (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ar زِفْت (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · tl ayangaw (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · eo peĉo (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ru смола́ (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · it catrame (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · tr zift (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · ba сайыр (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ka ფისი (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · gl pez (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · nb sevje (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · hu mézga (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · gl piche (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · gl chapapote (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · sq rrëshirë (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · el πίσσα (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · la bitumen (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · el ρητίνη (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · oj bigiw (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ota زفت (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · cs smůla (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · tr zift (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · hu gyanta (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · ru дёготь (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · de Pech (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · gl alcatrén (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · nl hars (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · lv piķis (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · fr résine (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · oc gema (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · sh smola (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · pcd poé (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · cs smola (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · es pez (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · ro smoală (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · ca pega negra (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · arz زفت (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · sk smola (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · hu bitumen (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · sq pisë (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · pt breu (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · it bitume (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · bg катра́н (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · gl recina (sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees) · af pik (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · pt piche (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar) · fr poix (dark, extremely viscous material made by distilling tar)
From Middle English picche, piche, pich, from Old English piċ, from Proto-West Germanic *pik, from Latin pix. Cognate with Ancient Greek πίσσα (píssa, “pitch, tar”), Latin pīnus (“pine”). More at pine. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pik (“pitch, tar”), Dutch pek (“pitch, tar”), German Low German Pick (“pitch, tar”), German Pech (“pitch, tar”), Catalan pega (“pitch”), Spanish pegar (“to stick, glue”), Franco-Provençal pouatche (“sap from a pine”) and French poix (“sap”). The adjective is probably back-formed from pitch-black, reinterpreting "pitch" as meaning "intense(ly)".
Meanings
To cover or smear with pitch.
“Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 6:14:
To darken; to blacken; to obscure.
1704 (published), year written unknown, John Dryden, On the Death of Amyntas
Soon he found / The welkin pitch'd with sullen clouds.
From Middle English picchen, pycchen (“to thrust in, fasten, settle”), from Old English *piċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *pikkijan, a variant of Proto-West Germanic *pikkōn (“to pick, peck”), whence Middle English pikken, picken (“to pick, pierce”), modern English pick.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A throw; a toss; a cast, as of something from the hand.
a good pitch in quoits
(countable, uncountable) The act of pitching a baseball.
The pitch was low and inside.
(Australia, New-Zealand, UK, countable, uncountable) The field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played. (In cricket, the pitch is in the centre of the field; see cricket pitch.) (Not often used in the US or Canada, where "field" is the preferred word.)
The teams met on the pitch.
(countable, uncountable) A short, high, lofty shot that lands with backspin.
(countable, rare, uncountable) The field of battle.
George’s cult was popular in the east because of his legendary feats on the battle pitch and because of the location of his tomb, which was a pilgrimage site. 2018, Christopher R. Lakey, Sculptural Seeing: Relief, Optics and the Rise of Perspectives in Medieval Italy, page 84:
Every other day they would spend half of the training hours on the battle pitch. 2015, SK Benton, Lives of Future-Past:
“The two men of Alltraighe maintain, Two chiefs of the plain of Kerry, A clan the most active in pitch of battle, Their chiefs are O’Neide and Clan Conary.” 1845, Owen Connellan, Annals of Ireland: Translated from the Original Irish of the Four Masters, page 179:
(countable, uncountable) An effort to sell or promote something.
He gave me a sales pitch.
(countable, uncountable) The distance between evenly spaced objects, e.g. the teeth of a saw or gear, the turns of a screw thread, the centres of holes, or letters in a monospace font.
The pitch of pixels on the point scale is 72 pixels per inch.
The pitch of this saw is perfect for that type of wood.
A helical scan with a pitch of zero is equivalent to constant z-axis scanning.
(countable, uncountable) The angle at which an object sits.
the pitch of the roof or haystack
(countable, uncountable) The rotation angle about the transverse axis. ▸ The degree to which a vehicle, especially a ship or aircraft, rotates on such an axis, tilting its bow or nose up or down.
the pitch of an aircraft
(countable, uncountable) The rotation angle about the transverse axis. ▸ A measure of the angle of attack of a propeller.
The propeller blades' pitch went to 90° as the engine was feathered.
(countable, uncountable) An area in a market (or similar) allocated to a particular trader.
(broadly, countable, uncountable) The place where a busker performs, a prostitute solicits clients, or an illegal gambling game etc. is set up before the public.
Another reason is that the prostitute who makes her pitch at Marble Arch stands a chance of being picked up by an out-of-town business man stopping at one of the hotels in the vicinity, and of being treated to a steak dinner […] 1975, Tom A. Cullen, The Prostitutes' Padre, page 94:
(countable, uncountable) An area on a campsite intended for occupation by a single tent, caravan or similar.
(countable, uncountable) A level or degree, or (by extension), a peak or highest degree.
He lived at a time when learning was at its highest pitch. September 28, 1710, Joseph Addison, Whig-Examiner No. 2
In this poem his 'vernacular' bluster and garish misrhymes build to a pitch of rowdy anarchy […] 2014, James Booth, Philip Larkin: Life, Art and Love, page 190:
In the eyes of Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke the apotheosis of the Celebrity was complete. The people of Asquith were not only willing to attend the house-warming, but had been worked up to the pitch of eagerness. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
But, except the mind be disordered by disease or madness, they never can arrive at such a pitch of vivacity 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, Oxford University Press, published 1973, section 11:
(countable, uncountable) A point or peak; the extreme point of elevation or depression.
Driven headlong from the pitch of heaven, down / Into this deep. 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) The most thrust-out point of a headland or cape.
From the pitch of Cape-Fraward, to the pitch of Cape-Holland, the Streight lies in the Channel West and by North, nearest, and is distant full five Leagues; 2014, John Narborough, Abel Tasman, John Wood, An Account of Several Late Voyages and Discoveries to the South and North, →ISBN:
(obsolete, uncountable) Collectively, the outermost points of some part of the body, especially the shoulders or hips.
Such breadth of ſhoulders as might mainely beare
Olde Atlas burthen, twixt his manly pitch,
A pearle more worth, then all the world is plaſte: c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act (please specify |act=I or II), scene i:
(countable, uncountable) The height a bird reaches in flight, especially a bird of prey preparing to swoop down on its prey.
(UK, countable, regional, uncountable) A person's or animal's height.
So like in person, garb, and pitch,
'Twas hard t' interpret which was which 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:
Alba the emperor was crook-backed, Epictetus lame; that great Alexander a little man of stature, Augustus Cæsar of the same pitch […]. 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 2:
(countable, uncountable) Prominence; importance.
Enterprises of great pitch and moment. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
(countable, uncountable) A section of a climb or rock face; specifically, the climbing distance between belays or stances.
The line turns a sharp right-angle to the north to circumvent the town, and then plunges straight into the 1 in 50, which lasts for nearly 20 miles with few intermissions, and some pitches of 1 in 40. 1950 April, Timothy H. Cobb, “The Kenya-Uganda Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 265:
You lead "through" instead — your companion leads a pitch, then you join him. But instead of swapping over at the ice axe belay, you carry on in the lead, cutting or kicking steps until you are about twenty feet above. 1967, Anthony Greenbank, Instructions in Mountaineering, page 84:
(countable, uncountable) A vertical cave passage, only negotiable by using rope or ladders.
The entrance pitch requires 30 metres of rope.
(countable, uncountable) That point of the ground on which the ball pitches or lights when bowled.
(countable, uncountable) A descent; a fall; a thrusting down.
(countable, uncountable) The point where a declivity begins; hence, the declivity itself; a descending slope; the degree or rate of descent or slope; slant.
a steep pitch in the road
the pitch of a roof
(countable, uncountable) The limit of ground set to a miner who receives a share of the ore taken out.
bg ниво (level or degree) · fr laïus (effort to sell or promote something) · fr lancer (act of pitching a baseball) · fr pas (distance between evenly spaced objects) · ja ピッチ (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · ru тангаж (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · fr niveau (level or degree) · cs hřistě (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · sk vrh (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · fr descente (point where a declivity begins, descending slope, the degree or rate of descent) · ru ска́т (angle at which an object sits) · ru интерва́л (distance between evenly spaced objects) · sk úroveň (level or degree) · bg степен (level or degree) · fr puits (caving: vertical cave passage) · fi nyökkääminen (rotation angle about the transverse axis) · hi मैदान (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · ro prezentare (effort to sell or promote something) · fr présentation (effort to sell or promote something) · es arfada (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · fr chute (descent, fall, a thrusting down) · ca llançament (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · fr emplacement (area in a market allocated to a particular trader) · pl rzut (act of pitching a baseball) · pl odstęp (distance between evenly spaced objects) · eo ludkampo (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · sk podanie (act of pitching a baseball) · th การขว้าง (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · ru дифферент (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · it sostegno (effort to sell or promote something) · it campo (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · ja ピッチ (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · ja 投球 (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · fr tangage (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · fr promotion (effort to sell or promote something) · pl kąt (angle at which an object sits) · fi pohja (point or peak, the extreme point or degree of elevation or depression, a limit or bound) · pt campo (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · hu fok (level or degree) · pl bajer (effort to sell or promote something) · fi nyökkääminen (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · mi hoa (angle at which an object sits) · pl pole (do krykieta) (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · ca parada (area in a market allocated to a particular trader) · fi pitch (effort to sell or promote something) · fr argument (effort to sell or promote something) · fr pente (angle at which an object sits) · de Grad (level or degree) · fi syöttö (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · fr inclinaison (angle at which an object sits) · fr jet (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · sk stupeň (level or degree) · fi huippu (point or peak, the extreme point or degree of elevation or depression, a limit or bound) · es lanzamiento (act of pitching a baseball) · mi hoa (point where a declivity begins, descending slope, the degree or rate of descent) · de Verkaufsgespräch (effort to sell or promote something) · fi syöttö (act of pitching a baseball) · fi harja (point where a declivity begins, descending slope, the degree or rate of descent) · bg щанд (area in a market allocated to a particular trader) · sv stigning (rotation angle about the transverse axis) · bg серги́я (area in a market allocated to a particular trader) · bg игри́ще (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · ca camp (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · it lancio (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · pl kiwanie (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · cs rozteč (distance between evenly spaced objects) · sk rozstup (distance between evenly spaced objects) · fi myyntipuhe (effort to sell or promote something) · mi kauhanga (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · cs stupeň (level or degree) · it promozione (effort to sell or promote something) · fr tir (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · sk hod (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · it beccheggio (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · hu köz (distance between evenly spaced objects) · ca pas (distance between evenly spaced objects) · cs rozestup (distance between evenly spaced objects) · ro inclinare (angle at which an object sits) · sv propellerstigning (rotation angle about the transverse axis) · fi mitta (person's or animal's height) · ko 피칭 (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · eo ĵeto (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · bg хвърляне (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · fi kuilu (caving: vertical cave passage) · bg ръст (person's or animal's height) · de Sportplatz (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · sk klesanie (point where a declivity begins, descending slope, the degree or rate of descent) · fr taille (person's or animal's height) · de Wurf (act of pitching a baseball) · it passo (distance between evenly spaced objects) · fi lasku (point where a declivity begins, descending slope, the degree or rate of descent) · es tiro (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · he עלרוד (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · fi kallistus (angle at which an object sits) · ca grau (level or degree) · fr écartement (distance between evenly spaced objects) · it pendenza (angle at which an object sits) · fi heitto (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · de Abstand (distance between evenly spaced objects) · es campo (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · ro teren (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · es tono (level or degree) · pt passo (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · bg танга́ж (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · bg стръмнина (point where a declivity begins, descending slope, the degree or rate of descent) · de Teilung (distance between evenly spaced objects) · fi pudotus (descent, fall, a thrusting down) · pl rozstaw (distance between evenly spaced objects) · ro aruncare (act of pitching a baseball) · cs rozpal (distance between evenly spaced objects) · cs hod (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · de Steigung (angle at which an object sits) · nl worp (act of pitching a baseball) · it servizio (act of pitching a baseball) · sv kast (act of pitching a baseball) · pt arremesso (act of pitching a baseball) · fi raja (point or peak, the extreme point or degree of elevation or depression, a limit or bound) · it pitch (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · fi jako (distance between evenly spaced objects) · sk miera (level or degree) · es cabeceo (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · fi toripaikka (area in a market allocated to a particular trader) · bg килово клатене (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · de Neigung (angle at which an object sits) · fi alamäki (point where a declivity begins, descending slope, the degree or rate of descent) · ko 경사면 (angle at which an object sits) · hu pálya (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · es charla convincente (effort to sell or promote something) · sk špic (point or peak, the extreme point or degree of elevation or depression, a limit or bound) · fi kenttä (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · pt arfagem (rotation angle about the transverse axis) · cs úroveň (level or degree) · ca llançament (act of pitching a baseball) · ru бросо́к (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · bg поле́ (field of battle) · es cabezada (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · cs nadhoz (act of pitching a baseball) · fr extremum (point or peak, the extreme point or degree of elevation or depression, a limit or bound) · ja ピッチング (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · sv tippning (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · es paso (de rosca o hélice) (distance between evenly spaced objects) · fr terrain (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · es técnica de ventas (effort to sell or promote something) · fi nousu (aviation: measure of the angle of attack of a propeller) · sv plan (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · ru пода́ча (act of pitching a baseball) · bg спу́скане (descent, fall, a thrusting down) · fi taso (level or degree) · bg стан (person's or animal's height) · fr angle (angle at which an object sits) · es ángulo (aviation: measure of the angle of attack of a propeller) · ja ピッチ (distance between evenly spaced objects) · pl rzut (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · ja ピッチング (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · fr tangage (rotation angle about the transverse axis) · fi nurmi (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · it tiro (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · bg бой (person's or animal's height) · bg хвърляне (act of pitching a baseball) · pt grau (level or degree) · fi nyökkääminen (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · hu lejtés (angle at which an object sits) · ko 피칭 (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · es distancia (distance between evenly spaced objects) · sk sklon (angle at which an object sits) · it beccheggio (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · ta மைதானம் (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · ru танга́ж (rotation angle about the transverse axis) · id anggul (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · bg сниже́ние (descent, fall, a thrusting down) · ru шаг (distance between evenly spaced objects) · bg танга́ж (rotation angle about the transverse axis) · fi nousu (distance between evenly spaced objects) · ja 傾斜 (angle at which an object sits) · fr assiette (aviation: measure of the degree to which an aircraft's nose tilts up or down) · sk ihrisko (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · fr tangage (nautical: measure of extent to which a vessel's bow and stern go up and down) · ro pas (distance between evenly spaced objects) · it lancio (effort to sell or promote something) · ca nivell (level or degree) · ko 투구 (throw, toss or cast from the hand) · nl verkooppraatje (effort to sell or promote something) · el γήπεδο (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · es presentación vendedora (effort to sell or promote something) · pl boisko (field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played) · it inclinazione (angle at which an object sits) · es declive (angle at which an object sits) · fi jyrkkyys (point where a declivity begins, descending slope, the degree or rate of descent) · bg наклон (angle at which an object sits)
From Middle English picchen, pycchen (“to thrust in, fasten, settle”), from Old English *piċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *pikkijan, a variant of Proto-West Germanic *pikkōn (“to pick, peck”), whence Middle English pikken, picken (“to pick, pierce”), modern English pick.
Meanings
(transitive) To throw.
He pitched the horseshoe.
(intransitive, transitive) To throw (the ball) toward a batter at home plate.
He pitched high and inside.
The hurler pitched a curveball.
(intransitive) To play baseball in the position of pitcher.
Bob pitches today.
(transitive) To throw away; discard.
He pitched the candy wrapper.
(transitive) To promote, advertise, or attempt to sell.
He pitched the idea for months with no takers.
(transitive) To deliver in a certain tone or style, or with a certain audience in mind.
At which level should I pitch my presentation?
(transitive) To assemble or erect (a tent). Also used figuratively.
Pitch the tent over there.
Why not, when it was clearly now possible to pitch your tent well beyond whatever expert consensus considered reasonable and be lionised instead of punished [...] 2024 April 16, Gaby Hinsliff, “Liz Truss has kindly offered to ‘save the west’. But who will save her from her delusions?”, in The Guardian:
(intransitive) To fix or place a tent or temporary habitation; to encamp.
Laban with his brethren pitched in the Mount of Gilead. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 31:25:
(ambitransitive) To move so that the front of an aircraft or boat goes alternately up and down.
Half a dozen deserted boats pitched aimlessly upon the confusion of the waves. 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 103:
The airplane pitched.
His bone leg steadied in that hole ; one arm elevated, and holding by a shroud ; Captain Ahab stood erect, looking straight out beyond the ship's ever-pitching prow. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 28, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 136:
The typhoon pitched the deck of the ship.
(transitive) To set at an angle, especially a downwards one; to cause to tilt.
Driveway cross slopes along Owyhee Street in Boise reach nearly 9%, which could cause a person in a wheelchair or using another mobility device to be pitched into the street. The cross slope should be no greater than 2% in order to prevent this. 2020 August 4, Don Kostelec, ““Fully implement ADA.” Do agencies know what that means?”, in Kostelec Planning:
(transitive) To play a short, high, lofty shot that lands with backspin.
The only way to get on the green from here is to pitch the ball over the bunker.
(intransitive) To bounce on the playing surface.
The ball pitched well short of the batsman.
(intransitive, of snow, qualifier:Bristol) To settle and build up, without melting.
(archaic, intransitive) To alight; to settle; to come to rest from flight.
the tree whereon they [the bees] pitch 1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC:
(qualifier:with on or upon) To fix one's choice.
At present they have pitched their suspicions on a German visitor staying at Cliffhurst. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
Pitch upon the best course of life, and custom will render it the more easy. a. 1694, John Tillotson, The Precepts of Christianity not grievous:
"'Tis very unlucky that we didn't pitch on a sound one, when there were so many more of 'em!" 1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume I, London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., […], →OCLC, phase the first (The Maiden), page 53:
(intransitive) To plunge or fall; especially, to fall forward; to decline or slope.
to pitch from a precipice
The field pitches toward the east.
(transitive) To set, face, or pave (an embankment or roadway) with rubble or undressed stones.
[…]pitch the road with hard stones [rather] than to break them up for a road covering 1838, Thomas Hughes, The Practice of Making & Repairing Roads:
(transitive) To set or fix (a price or value).
Whose vultur thought doth pitch the price so hie,
That she will draw his lips rich treasure drie. 1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:
(slang, transitive) To discard (a card) for some gain.
To attack, or position or assemble for attack.
“Vy don’t you pitch into her Sarah?” exclaims one half-dressed matron by way of encouragement. 1866, Charles Dickens, Works: Sketches by Boz: Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People with Illustrations by George Cruikshank, page 65:
If Spain was to fight in the Americas, for example, the Royal Navy could pitch against it over 300 ships in the seventies (Morris 2011:13-32), deployed in various parts of the world. 2016, A. González Enciso, War, Power and the Economy: Mercantilism and state formation in 18th-century Europe, page 144:
Yet I sometimes long to pitch at him for daring to lift his eyes this way; I always feel the blood tingling at my finger’s end whenever he crosses my path. 1868, Rock Ruin; or the Daughter of the Island, page 23:
On the seventh day after the two armies were pitched against each other in the plain before Aphek the battle was joined, the Syrians were routed, and a hundred thousand of their foot-men were slain in one day. 1886, James Osgood Andrew Clark, Elijah Vindicated: Or The Answer by Fire, page 378:
The Philistines, hearing that Israel were assembled at Mizpeh, raised an army and pitched against them. 1892, Louis Barnett Abrahams, A Manual of Scripture History for Use in Jewish Schools and Families, page 72:
He would pitch into her, and pitch into himself, and then he would dwell on her good qualities, […] 2015, William Dean Howells, Delphi Complete Works of William Dean Howells:
They pitched at the waters of Merom. These waters of Merom are generally thought to be nothing but the lake of Semechon,[…] 1801, Thomas Coke, chapter 11, in A Commentary on the Holy Bible: Commentary on the Old Teatament, Joshua, page 51, verse 5:
To add yeast as a step while making beer
Since yeast propagation is time and resource intensive, it is customary to serially re-pitch yeast 2019 August 1, Girmay Kalayu, “Serial re-pitching: its effect on yeast physiology, fermentation performance, and product quality”, in Annals of Microbiology, volume 69, number 8, →DOI, →ISSN, pages 787–796:
five pitching rates were applied to lab-scale fermentations to investigate its impact on the yeast 2009 February 1, P. J. Verbelen, T. M. L. Dekoninck, S. M. G. Saerens, S. E. Van Mulders, J. M. Thevelein, “Impact of pitching rate on yeast fermentation performance and beer flavour”, in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, volume 82, number 1, →DOI, →ISSN, pages 155–167:
except for the cell growth which is higher for the yeast pitched with lower vitality 2004 September 1, L. F. Guido, P. G. Rodrigues, J. A. Rodrigues, C. R. Gonçalves, A. A. Barros, “The impact of the physiological condition of the pitching yeast on beer flavour stability: an industrial approach”, in Food Chemistry, volume 87, number 2, →DOI, →ISSN, pages 187–193:
ca llançar (throw) · fi viettää (plunge or fall) · bg ка́цвам (come to rest from flight) · bg ка́цна (come to rest from flight) · hu eldob (throw) · fr promouvoir (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · fr monter (assemble or erect (a tent)) · fi syöttää (play baseball in the position of pitcher) · pt vender (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · ro tanga (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · ru бро́сить (throw) · sv slänga (throw away, discard) · es promover (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · fr paver (set, face, or pave with rubble or undressed stones) · it beccheggiare (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · fr déclamer (deliver in a certain tone or style) · ca tirar (throw away, discard) · mi pūpahi (fix or place a tent or temporary habitation) · ro lansa (throw) · ru пода́ть (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · fi jyskiä (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · bg изхвърлям (throw away, discard) · ro monta (assemble or erect (a tent)) · fi nyökätä (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · fr fixer (set or fix, as a price or value) · nl werpen (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · pt armar (assemble or erect (a tent)) · sv kasta (throw away, discard) · fi valita (fix one's choice) · bg разполагам (fix or place a tent or temporary habitation) · it servire (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · bg хвърлям (throw) · sv resa (assemble or erect (a tent)) · hu ver (assemble or erect (a tent)) · mi tūpoupou (plunge or fall) · pt acumular (of snow, settle and build up, without melting) · fr tomber (plunge or fall) · es pichar (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · it sostenere (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · es lanzar (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · de bewerben (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · es echar (throw) · fi kaupata (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · pt arremessar (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · nl gooien (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · ro ridica (assemble or erect (a tent)) · mi epa (throw) · ro arunca (throw) · fr jeter (throw) · izh kengätä (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · fi uhrata (card games: discard a card for some gain) · ca llençar (throw away, discard) · de neigen (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · hu eldob (throw away, discard) · it accumularsi (of snow, settle and build up, without melting) · de aufschlagen (assemble or erect (a tent)) · es pichear (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · fi keinua (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · es cabecear (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · fi virittää (deliver in a certain tone or style) · sv kasta (throw) · fi kinostua (of snow, settle and build up, without melting) · pl rzucić (throw) · el πετάω (throw away, discard) · fi myydä (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · de wegwerfen (throw away, discard) · ga cuir suas (assemble or erect (a tent)) · fi heittää (throw) · sv kasta (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · de werfen (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · ca muntar (assemble or erect (a tent)) · fi nyökkiä (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · fr chuter (plunge or fall) · it lanciare (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · bg разпъвам (assemble or erect (a tent)) · es echar (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · ca acampar (fix or place a tent or temporary habitation) · fr arrêter (fix one's choice) · ru поста́вить (fix or place a tent or temporary habitation) · pl rozbić (assemble or erect (a tent)) · fi heittää menemään (throw away, discard) · ro arunca (throw away, discard) · bg ка́цам (come to rest from flight) · fi keinuttaa (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · gl desbotar (throw away, discard) · fr lancer (throw) · fi jyskyttää (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · ro promova (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · fi kaataa (plunge or fall) · de stampfen (play baseball in the position of pitcher) · ru броса́ть (throw) · es plantar (assemble or erect (a tent)) · it crescere (of snow, settle and build up, without melting) · bg пави́рам (set, face, or pave with rubble or undressed stones) · ro prezenta (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · gl arfar (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · fr s'accumuler (of snow, settle and build up, without melting) · fi pitsata (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · ru подава́ть (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · de werben (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · de stampfen (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · fr tanguer (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · mi tūpoupou (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · fi levittää sepeliä (set, face, or pave with rubble or undressed stones) · fi pystyttää (assemble or erect (a tent)) · fr lancer (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · ru ста́вить (assemble or erect (a tent)) · bg падам (plunge or fall) · fi laskeutua (come to rest from flight) · pt arremessar (throw) · it rizzare (assemble or erect (a tent)) · fi nyökyttää (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · he הקים (assemble or erect (a tent)) · de werfen (throw) · fi to give a quick promotional speech) (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · ca llançar (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · it gettare (throw) · es atendar (assemble or erect (a tent)) · pl złożyć (assemble or erect (a tent)) · fi mainostaa (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · it promuovere (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · fi pomppia (cricket: bounce on the playing surface) · el στήνω (assemble or erect (a tent)) · ca llançar (play baseball in the position of pitcher) · it buttare (throw away, discard) · fi leiriytyä (fix or place a tent or temporary habitation) · ca promoure (promote, advertise, or attempt to sell) · el ρίχνω (throw) · es armar (assemble or erect (a tent)) · bg гмуркам се (plunge or fall) · fr camper (fix or place a tent or temporary habitation) · sv lägga (of snow, settle and build up, without melting) · de aufschlagen (fix or place a tent or temporary habitation) · it piantare (assemble or erect (a tent)) · ro arunca (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · pt descartar (throw away, discard) · fr jeter (throw away, discard) · mi pūpahi (assemble or erect (a tent)) · ro sari (cricket: bounce on the playing surface) · pl rzucać (throw) · fi syöttää (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · bg хвърлям (baseball: throw the ball toward home plate) · ru помести́ть (fix or place a tent or temporary habitation) · fi lyödä pitch (golf: play a short, high, lofty shot that lands with backspin) · pt jogar fora (throw away, discard) · bg слягам се (of snow, settle and build up, without melting) · it servire (play baseball in the position of pitcher) · es lanzar (throw) · fi kaatua (plunge or fall) · ro oscila longitudinal (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down) · fi säätää (deliver in a certain tone or style) · fi lyödä lukkoon (set or fix, as a price or value) · es arfar (move so that the front of the craft goes alternatively up and down)
Unknown. Perhaps from the above sense of "inclination", "level", or "degree", or influenced by it.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) The perceived frequency of a sound, note or electromagnetic wave.
The pitch of middle "C" is familiar to many musicians.
Hertzian waves are not caused by vibrations of the ponderable matter of the brass balls, the form of which only determines the pitch. 1895 February 28, Ludwig Boltzmann, “On Certain Questions of the Theory of Gases" (Letters to the Editor)”, in Nature, volume 51, number 1322, page 414:
(countable, uncountable) The standard to which a group of musical instruments are tuned or in which a piece is performed, usually by reference to the frequency to which the musical note A above middle C is tuned.
Are we in baroque pitch for this one?
(countable, uncountable) In an a cappella group, the singer responsible for singing a note for the other members to tune themselves by.
Bob, our pitch, let out a clear middle "C" and our conductor gave the signal to start.
ru тон (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · de Tonlage (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · pt agudez (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · mi hauoro (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · fr hauteur (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · eo pitĉo (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · es frecuencia acústica/sónica (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · tl tinis (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · kl nipi (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · ru высота́ (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · pt agudeza (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · it timbro (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · it altezza (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · cs tón (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · it tono (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · nl toonhoogte (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · ro ton (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · bg височина (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · de Tonhöhe (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · tr perde (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · pl ton (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · cmn 音高 (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · fi sävelkorkeus (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · hu hangmagasság (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · pt altura (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · id tinggi nada (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · es altura (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · ms kelangsingan (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · grc τόνος (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · ga airde (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · ms nada (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · yue 音高 (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · es altura tonal (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · ro înălțime (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · it intonazione (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · ca to (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · eo tonalto (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · sv ton (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · id nada (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · id titinada (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · eo piĉo (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · sv tonhöjd (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · ota سس (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · pl wysokość dźwięku (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · cy traw (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · cs výška tónu (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · is tónhæð (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · mi tangi (perceived frequency of a sound or note) · el ύψος (perceived frequency of a sound or note)
Unknown. Perhaps from the above sense of "inclination", "level", or "degree", or influenced by it.
Meanings
(intransitive) To produce a note of a given pitch.
[…] now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music and the opera of voices pitches a key higher. 1925, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, chapter 3, in The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1953, →ISBN:
(transitive) To fix or set the tone of.
His "hello" was enough to recognize his voice by. I pitched mine low so he wouldn't know it. 1955 October, Rex Stout, “Die Like a Dog”, in Three Witnesses, Bantam, published 1994, →ISBN, pages 196–197:
I record voice messages in Russian, with my voice pitched to a sexy-baby timbre and a heavy American accent. 2020 October 14, Cathryn Virginia, “My Life as an Anti-Fascist Catfisher”, in The New Republic: