pitch
♦ pitch /p'ɪtʃ/ (pitches pitching pitched)
1 [N-COUNT] oft n N
A pitch is an area of ground that is marked out and used for playing a game such as football, cricket, or hockey. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use field)
There was a swimming-pool, cricket pitches, playing fields...
Their conduct both on and off the pitch was excellent.
2 [VERB] V n prep
If you pitch something somewhere, you throw it with quite a lot of force, usually aiming it carefully.
Simon pitched the empty bottle into the lake.
3 [VERB] V adv, be V-ed prep/adv
To pitch somewhere means to fall forwards suddenly and with a lot of force.
The movement took him by surprise, and he pitched forward...
I was pitched into the water and swam ashore.
4 [VERB] be V-ed prep, V n prep
If someone is pitched into a new situation, they are suddenly forced into it.
They were being pitched into a new adventure...
This could pitch the government into confrontation with the work-force.
5 [VERB] V n
In the game of baseball or rounders, when you pitch the ball, you throw it to the batter for them to hit it.
We passed long, hot afternoons pitching a baseball.
● pitching [N-UNCOUNT]
His pitching was a legend among major league hitters.
6 [N-UNCOUNT]
The pitch of a sound is how high or low it is.
He raised his voice to an even higher pitch.
see also perfect pitch
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed prep/adv, V-ed
If a sound is pitched at a particular level, it is produced at the level indicated.
His cry is pitched at a level that makes it impossible to ignore...
Her voice was well pitched and brisk.
see also high-pitched, low-pitched
8 [VERB] be V-ed prep, V n prep
If something is pitched at a particular level or degree of difficulty, it is set at that level.
I think the material is pitched at too high a level for our purposes...
The government has pitched High Street interest rates at a new level.
9 [N-SING] usu with supp
If something such as a feeling or a situation rises to a high pitch, it rises to a high level.
Tension has reached such a pitch that the armed forces say soldiers may have to use their weapons to defend themselves against local people.
see also fever pitch
10 [VERB] V n, V n
If you pitch your tent, or pitch camp, you put up your tent in a place where you are going to stay.
He had pitched his tent in the yard...
At dusk we pitched camp in the middle of nowhere.
11 [VERB] V
If a boat pitches, it moves violently up and down with the movement of the waves when the sea is rough.
The ship is pitching and rolling in what looks like about fifteen foot seas.
12
see also pitched
13 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR for n
If someone makes a pitch for something, they try to persuade people to do or buy it.
The President speaks in New York today, making another pitch for his economic program...
see also sales pitchfe|ver pitch
[N-UNCOUNT] oft at N
If something is at fever pitch, it is in an extremely active or excited state.
Campaigning is reaching fever pitch for elections on November 6.per|fect pitch
[N-UNCOUNT]
Someone who has perfect pitch is able to identify or sing musical notes correctly.pitch for
[PHRASAL VERB] usu cont, V P n
If someone is pitching for something, they are trying to persuade other people to give it to them.
...laws prohibiting the state's accountants from pitching for business...pitch in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to-inf
If you pitch in, you join in and help with an activity. (INFORMAL)
The agency says international relief agencies also have pitched in...
The entire company pitched in to help.pitch in|va|sion (pitch invasions)
[N-COUNT]
If there is a pitch invasion during or after a football, rugby, or cricket match, fans run on to the pitch. (BRIT)sales pitch (sales pitches)
[N-COUNT]
A salesperson's sales pitch is what they say in order to persuade someone to buy something from them.
His sales pitch was smooth and convincing.
1 [N-COUNT] oft n N
A pitch is an area of ground that is marked out and used for playing a game such as football, cricket, or hockey. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use field)
There was a swimming-pool, cricket pitches, playing fields...
Their conduct both on and off the pitch was excellent.
2 [VERB] V n prep
If you pitch something somewhere, you throw it with quite a lot of force, usually aiming it carefully.
Simon pitched the empty bottle into the lake.
3 [VERB] V adv, be V-ed prep/adv
To pitch somewhere means to fall forwards suddenly and with a lot of force.
The movement took him by surprise, and he pitched forward...
I was pitched into the water and swam ashore.
4 [VERB] be V-ed prep, V n prep
If someone is pitched into a new situation, they are suddenly forced into it.
They were being pitched into a new adventure...
This could pitch the government into confrontation with the work-force.
5 [VERB] V n
In the game of baseball or rounders, when you pitch the ball, you throw it to the batter for them to hit it.
We passed long, hot afternoons pitching a baseball.
● pitching [N-UNCOUNT]
His pitching was a legend among major league hitters.
6 [N-UNCOUNT]
The pitch of a sound is how high or low it is.
He raised his voice to an even higher pitch.
see also perfect pitch
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed prep/adv, V-ed
If a sound is pitched at a particular level, it is produced at the level indicated.
His cry is pitched at a level that makes it impossible to ignore...
Her voice was well pitched and brisk.
see also high-pitched, low-pitched
8 [VERB] be V-ed prep, V n prep
If something is pitched at a particular level or degree of difficulty, it is set at that level.
I think the material is pitched at too high a level for our purposes...
The government has pitched High Street interest rates at a new level.
9 [N-SING] usu with supp
If something such as a feeling or a situation rises to a high pitch, it rises to a high level.
Tension has reached such a pitch that the armed forces say soldiers may have to use their weapons to defend themselves against local people.
see also fever pitch
10 [VERB] V n, V n
If you pitch your tent, or pitch camp, you put up your tent in a place where you are going to stay.
He had pitched his tent in the yard...
At dusk we pitched camp in the middle of nowhere.
11 [VERB] V
If a boat pitches, it moves violently up and down with the movement of the waves when the sea is rough.
The ship is pitching and rolling in what looks like about fifteen foot seas.
12
see also pitched
13 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR for n
If someone makes a pitch for something, they try to persuade people to do or buy it.
The President speaks in New York today, making another pitch for his economic program...
see also sales pitchfe|ver pitch
[N-UNCOUNT] oft at N
If something is at fever pitch, it is in an extremely active or excited state.
Campaigning is reaching fever pitch for elections on November 6.per|fect pitch
[N-UNCOUNT]
Someone who has perfect pitch is able to identify or sing musical notes correctly.pitch for
[PHRASAL VERB] usu cont, V P n
If someone is pitching for something, they are trying to persuade other people to give it to them.
...laws prohibiting the state's accountants from pitching for business...pitch in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to-inf
If you pitch in, you join in and help with an activity. (INFORMAL)
The agency says international relief agencies also have pitched in...
The entire company pitched in to help.pitch in|va|sion (pitch invasions)
[N-COUNT]
If there is a pitch invasion during or after a football, rugby, or cricket match, fans run on to the pitch. (BRIT)sales pitch (sales pitches)
[N-COUNT]
A salesperson's sales pitch is what they say in order to persuade someone to buy something from them.
His sales pitch was smooth and convincing.