pitcher
gb/pˈɪt͡ʃɚ/ us/pˈɪt͡ʃɚ/
A2
English
~ 9500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
handled container for pouring drinks
A tall container with a handle that you use to hold and pour drinks like water or juice.
Usage pattern:
a pitcher of [liquid]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "pitcher" with "picture" because they sound similar. A "pitcher" is a container for liquids, while a "picture" is an image. Some learners also say *"cup of water"* when they mean a larger shared container; in that case, "pitcher of water" is correct.
Synonyms
jug (More common in British English; often similar shape and use.)
|
carafe (More formal and often used for serving water or wine, especially in restaurants.)
Collocations
pitcher of water
|pitcher of juice
|glass pitcher
|plastic pitcher
|fill the pitcher
|empty the pitcher
Themes
daily life
|home
|daily_life
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She filled a pitcher with ice water and set it on the table.
- Could you pass the pitcher of orange juice, please?
- The restaurant brought a large pitcher of lemonade for the whole group.
- He knocked over the glass pitcher and spilled milk everywhere.
- They keep a cold pitcher of water in the fridge during summer.
Learner examples
- There is a pitcher of water on the table.
- My mom makes tea and puts it in a big pitcher.
- Please fill the pitcher with cold water.
- He pours juice from the pitcher into my glass.
- We share one large pitcher of lemonade.
Noun
B1
entity
2
baseball or softball throwing player
In baseball or softball, the player who throws the ball to the batter.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is the pitcher
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "pitcher" for players in other sports who throw or pass a ball (for example, in soccer or American football). "Pitcher" is only used for baseball and softball. It is also sometimes confused in spelling with "picture"; remember that "pitcher" comes from the verb "to pitch" (to throw).
Synonyms
hurler (Informal baseball slang, mainly in North America; used in sports writing more than everyday speech.)
Antonyms
batter (In baseball and softball, the batter is the player facing the pitcher and trying to hit the ball, so their roles are directly opposed.)
Collocations
starting pitcher
|relief pitcher
|star pitcher
|left-handed pitcher
|the pitcher throws
|pitcher on the mound
Themes
sports
|games
Examples
- The pitcher threw a fastball right down the middle.
- Our team needs a new starting pitcher for tomorrow's game.
- The coach walked out to talk to the pitcher after he gave up a home run.
- She became the first female pitcher to play for that college team.
- The relief pitcher came in during the seventh inning.
Learner examples
- My brother is the pitcher on his baseball team.
- The pitcher throws the ball very fast.
- A new pitcher started the game today.
- The coach takes the pitcher out of the game.
- The batter watches the pitcher carefully.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
tube-like trap of a pitcher plant
The deep, tube-shaped part of a pitcher plant that holds liquid and catches insects.
Usage pattern:
the pitcher of [a pitcher plant]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is the same as the everyday drink container meaning. In biology, the "pitcher" is part of a plant, not a separate container you can move or use at home.
Synonyms
trap (A general biological term; it describes the function of the pitcher but not its specific tube-like shape.)
Collocations
pitcher plant
|fluid-filled pitcher
|insect-filled pitcher
|digestive liquid in the pitcher
Themes
science
|nature
|animals
Examples
- The insect slipped into the pitcher and could not climb out again.
- Each pitcher is partially filled with liquid that helps the plant digest its prey.
- Researchers measured how many insects each pitcher collected over a week.
- The inner walls of the pitcher are too slippery for ants to escape.
- Older pitchers on the plant often turn brown and die back.
Learner examples
- The insect falls into the pitcher of the plant.
- Water and special liquid sit inside the pitcher.
- The pitcher of the plant looks like a tall cup.
- Many small flies are inside the green pitcher.
- A new pitcher grows next to the old one.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pitcher
IPA
GB/pˈɪt͡ʃɚ/
US/pˈɪt͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
pitch - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pitch)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pitcher
- Plural: pitchers
Word family
Forms
pitchers
noun
Related words
pitch
noun B1
Expressions
little pitchers have big ears
1/lˈɪtəl pˈɪt͡ʃɚz hˈæv bˈɪɡ ˈɪɹz/
idiom
children overhear and remember conversations
Children listen and understand more than adults think, so adults should be careful what they say around them.
Examples
- She lowered her voice and nodded toward the kids, saying, "Little pitchers have big ears."
- Before discussing the divorce, he reminded his sister that little pitchers have big ears.
- Parents sometimes forget that little pitchers have big ears and talk about money problems in front of their children.
pitcher of beer
1/pˈɪt͡ʃɚ əv bˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
large shared container of beer
A big pitcher filled with beer that people share and pour into their glasses.
Examples
- They ordered a pitcher of beer to share while they watched the game.
- The bar has a special price on a pitcher of beer during happy hour.
- He carried a heavy pitcher of beer carefully back to the table.
pitcher of water
1/pˈɪt͡ʃɚ əv wˈɔtɚ/
fixed phrase
shared container of drinking water
A pitcher that is filled with water for people to pour into their glasses.
Examples
- The waiter brought a large pitcher of water to the table.
- We keep a cold pitcher of water in the fridge during summer.
- She set a pitcher of water by the bed in case anyone got thirsty at night.
relief pitcher
1/ɹɪlˈif pˈɪt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
replacement pitcher in a game
A pitcher who comes into a baseball or softball game after the first pitcher is taken out.
Examples
- The relief pitcher entered in the eighth inning.
- Their best relief pitcher was unavailable last night.
- The coach called for a left-handed relief pitcher to face the next batter.
starting pitcher
1/stˈɑɹtɪŋ pˈɪt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
pitcher who begins the game
The pitcher who throws the first pitches for a team at the beginning of a baseball or softball game.
Examples
- The starting pitcher threw seven strong innings.
- Our starting pitcher injured his arm before the playoffs.
- They haven't announced tomorrow's starting pitcher yet.