Pith

Quick meaning: Pith is a noun meaning The soft, spongy substance inside plant parts; specifically, the parenchyma in the centre of the roots and stems of many plants and trees.

Meaning

The soft, spongy substance inside plant parts; specifically, the parenchyma in the centre of the roots and stems of many plants and trees.

More Meanings

1. The albedo (“whitish inner portion of the rind”) of a citrus fruit.
2. Senses relating to humans and animals.
3. The soft inner portion of a loaf of bread.
4. The central or innermost part of something; the core, the heart.
5. The essential or vital part of something; the essence.
6. Physical power or strength; force, might.
7. A quality of courage and endurance; backbone, mettle, spine.

Example Sentences

Buck Mulligan slit a steaming scone in two and plastered butter over its smoking pith. He bit off a soft piece hungrily.

In these days folk still believed in witches and trembled at a curse; and this one, falling so pat, like a wayside omen, to arrest me ere I carried out my purpose, took the pith out of my legs.

The food often grows in one country, and the sauce in another. The fruits of Portugal are corrected by the products of Barbadoes, and the infusion of a China plant is sweetened by the pith of an Indian cane.

Some make inciſion into the very Vine braunch, as farre as to the pith and marrovv vvithin (to divert the moiſture that feedeth the grape:) others lay the cluſters a drying upon tile-houſes: and all this is done vvith the grapes of the Vine Helvenaca.

Word Forms

• piths
• pithing
• pithed
• pi-th

Synonyms for pith

Depending on context, synonyms include marrow, medulla, kernel, crux, gist, heart.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include core, nub, marrow, meat, heart, center.

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