pitch1

Pronunciation: /pɪtʃ/

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Definition of pitch

noun

1 [mass noun] the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone:her voice rose steadily in pitch
a standard degree of highness or lowness used in performance:the guitars were strung and tuned to pitchSee also concert pitch.

2 [mass noun] the steepness of a slope, especially of a roof.
[count noun] Climbing a section of a climb, especially a steep one.
the height to which a hawk soars before swooping on its prey.

3 [in singular] a level of the intensity of something, especially a high level:the media furore reached such a pitch that the company withdrew the product

4British an area of ground marked out or used for play in an outdoor team game:a football pitch
Cricket the strip of ground between the two sets of stumps: both batsmen were stranded in the middle of the pitch

5 Baseball a delivery of the ball by the pitcher.
(also pitch of the ball) Cricket the spot where the ball bounces when bowled.
(also pitch shot) Golf a high approach shot on to the green.

6a form of words used when trying to persuade someone to buy or accept something:he put over a very strong sales pitch

7British a place where a street vendor or performer stations themselves or sets up a stall: the traders had already reserved their pitches

8 [mass noun] a swaying or oscillation of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of motion: the pitch and roll of the ship

9 [mass noun] technical the distance between successive corresponding points or lines, for example between the teeth of a cogwheel.
a measure of the angle of the blades of a screw propeller, equal to the distance forward a blade would move in one revolution if it exerted no thrust on the medium.
the density of typed or printed characters on a line, typically expressed as numbers of characters per inch.

verb

1 [with object and adverbial] set (one’s voice or a piece of music) at a particular pitch:you’ve pitched the melody very high
set or aim at a particular level, target, or audience:he should pitch his talk at a suitable level for the age group

2 [with object and adverbial of direction] throw roughly or casually:he crumpled the page up and pitched it into the fireplace
[no object, with adverbial of direction] fall heavily, especially headlong:she pitched forward into blackness

3 [with object] Baseball throw (the ball) for the batter to try to hit.
Cricket (of a bowler) cause (the ball) to strike the ground at a particular point:all too often you pitch the ball short
Golf hit (the ball) on to the green with a pitch shot.
[no object] Cricket & Golf (of the ball) strike the ground in a particular spot: the ball pitched, began to spin back, and rolled towards the hole

4 [no object] make a bid to obtain a contract or other business:I’ve been pitching for this account for over a month
[with object] try to persuade someone to buy or accept (something):they pitched the story to various magazines and newspapers

5 [with object] set up and fix in position:we pitched camp for the night
Cricket fix (the stumps) in the ground and place the bails in preparation for play: the stumps were pitched at 12 o’clock

6 [no object] (of a moving ship, aircraft, or vehicle) rock or oscillate around a lateral axis, so that the front moves up and down:the little steamer pressed on, pitching gently
(of a vehicle) move with a vigorous jolting motion:a Land Rover came pitching round the hillside

7 [with object] cause (a roof) to slope downwards from the ridge:the roof was pitched at an angle of 75 degrees
[no object] slope downwards:the ravine pitches down to the creek

8 [with object] pave (a road) with stones: another sort of stone is used for pitching streets

9 [with object] (in brewing) add yeast to (wort) to induce fermentation.

Phrases

make a pitch: make a bid to obtain a contract or other business: the company is making a pitch at a £200 million market a brilliant and handsome research student made a determined pitch for her

Phrasal Verbs

pitch someone/thing against: informal pit someone or something against: the case has pitched brother against brother
pitch in: vigorously join in to help with a task or activity: we must all pitch in and do our part; join in a fight or dispute: he pitched in with his usual aggressive style
pitch into: vigorously tackle or begin to deal with: I pitched into the chores with a light heart; forcefully assault: he pitched into the youths with such fury that they ran off
pitch up: informal turn up; arrive: he eventually pitched up in Britain on a diplomatic passport
pitch something up (or pitch up): Cricket bowl a ball so that it bounces near the batsman.

Origin:

Middle English (as a verb in the senses 'thrust (something pointed) into the ground' and 'fall headlong'): perhaps related to Old English picung 'stigmata', of unknown ultimate origin. The sense development is obscure

pitch in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of pitch in the US English dictionary

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Other

pitch1

noun

verb

Phrases

make a pitch

Phrasal Verbs

pitch someone/thing against

pitch in

pitch into

pitch up

pitch something up (or pitch up)

Origin:

pitch in other Oxford dictionaries

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