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pitch1

  • noun 1 the degree of highness or lowness in a sound or tone, as governed by the rate of vibrations producing it. 2 the steepness of a roof. 3 a particular level of intensity. 4 Brit. an area of ground marked out or used for play in an outdoor team game. 5 a form of words used to persuade or influence: a sales pitch. 6 Brit. a place where a street vendor or performer stations themselves. 7 a swaying or oscillation of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of motion.

  • verb 1 set at a particular musical pitch. 2 throw or fall heavily or roughly. 3 set or aim at a particular level, target, or audience. 4 set up and fix in position. 5 (pitch in) informal join in enthusiastically with a task or activity. 6 (pitch up) informal arrive. 7 (of a moving ship, aircraft, or vehicle) rock or oscillate around a lateral axis, so that the front moves up and down. 8 often as adj. pitched (with reference to a roof) slope or cause to slope downwards.

  — PHRASES make a pitch make an attempt at or bid for something.

  — ORIGIN perhaps related to an Old English word meaning stigmata.

 

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