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Synonyms

pica

1 American  
[pahy-kuh] / ˈpaɪ kə /

noun

Printing.

  1. a 12-point type of a size between small pica and English.

  2. the depth of this type size as a unit of linear measurement for type, pages containing type, etc.; one sixth of an inch.

  3. a 12-point type, widely used for typewriters, having 10 characters to the inch.

pica 2 American  
[pahy-kuh] / ˈpaɪ kə /

noun

Pathology.

  1. an abnormal appetite or craving for substances that are not fit to eat, as chalk or clay, common in malnutrition, pregnancy, etc.

pica 1 British  
/ ˈpaɪkə /

noun

  1. Also called: em.   pica em.  a printer's unit of measurement, equal to 12 points or 0.166 ins

  2. (formerly) a size of printer's type equal to 12 point

  3. a typewriter type size having 10 characters to the inch

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
pica 2 British  
/ ˈpaɪkə /

noun

  1. pathol an abnormal craving to ingest substances such as clay, dirt, or hair, sometimes occurring during pregnancy, in persons with chlorosis, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pica1

1580–90; apparently < Medieval Latin pīca pie 4, on the model of brevier and canon 1, other type sizes

Origin of pica2

1555–65; < New Latin, special use of Latin pīca jay, magpie, with reference to its omnivorous feeding

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In another report, the inspector pointed to years of concerns about the care provided to patients who have pica, a disorder in which people feel compelled to swallow inedible objects such as coins and zippers.

From Salon • Feb. 10, 2023

“Cheryl Yewdall’s lack of any history of engaging in pica behavior indicates that a staff member at Merakey Woodhaven placed the cleaning wipe in Cheryl Yewdall’s trachea,” the lawsuit said.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 27, 2022

An autopsy showed the girl had multiple foreign objects in her bowels related to her pica eating disorder.

From Washington Times • Nov. 6, 2020

A young housewife in a seemingly perfect marriage develops pica, the irresistible urge to ingest inedible objects and material.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2020

On the last page, I see the pica type that reads Property of Mississippi Law Library.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.