penny
penny — noun
1. in the modern British money system, one penny is one of the 100 equal parts of a
in the modern British money system, one penny is one of the 100 equal parts of a pound, and also the coin with that value.
The bus fare was seventy pence, so Maya counted out seven coins.
cost + [number] pence
Ben found a shiny penny near the ticket machine at King's Cross.
At the bakery, two warm rolls cost ninety pence.
Grandpa keeps old pennies in a blue tin by the window.
The school fair sold orange juice for fifty pence a cup.
- pound
the larger British unit made up of 100 pennies
文法句型
cost + [number] pence
a penny
pennies
用法筆記
For amounts, British English usually uses 'pence' or the written form 'p' after a number; 'pennies' more often means the coins themselves. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 belongs to the pound-and-pence system, not dollars and cents.
常見錯誤
2. in the United States and Canada, an everyday name for a cent and for the coin wo
in the United States and Canada, an everyday name for a cent and for the coin worth one cent.
A penny rolled under the sofa while the children played cards.
Mia keeps Canadian pennies in a jar above her desk.
Canadian pennies
The cashier asked for one more penny to cover the tax.
At the museum door, Leo dropped a penny into the charity jar.
The little boy saved every penny in a glass piggy bank.
- cent
the standard name for the value in North American prices
- one-cent coin
explicit term when you need to stress the physical coin
- dollar
the larger unit made up of 100 cents
文法句型
a penny
save every penny
Canadian pennies
用法筆記
In North American prices, people usually say 'cent' for the value and often 'penny' for the coin. Distinguish from sense 1: the idea is similar, but the currency system is different.
常見錯誤
3. in Britain and Ireland before decimal money began in 1971, a penny was a coin an
in Britain and Ireland before decimal money began in 1971, a penny was a coin and money unit equal to one twelfth of a shilling.
In the old book, a stamp cost one penny.
The guide explained that twelve pennies once made one shilling.
twelve pennies made one shilling
Grandma showed us a dark penny from before decimal money.
At the museum, children held copies of old pennies.
- old penny
plain historical label in everyday explanation
- pre-decimal penny
stresses that it belonged to the earlier British system
文法句型
one penny
twelve pennies made one shilling
用法筆記
Historical use only, mostly in books, museums, or talk about older prices. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense belongs to the pre-decimal system, where twelve pennies made a shilling.
常見錯誤
4. the least sum of money at all, especially in set phrases about paying nothing or
the least sum of money at all, especially in set phrases about paying nothing or getting full value.
The repair did not cost us a penny because the shop made a mistake.
not cost a penny
After rent, Jae did not have a penny left for lunch.
not have a penny left
The old violin was expensive, but it was worth every penny.
The school raised money, and every penny bought new library books.
The hotel owner would not lower the bill by a penny.
- small change
near equivalent when talking about a very small amount of money
- nothing
fits negative patterns when the meaning is no money at all
- fortune
a very large amount of money
文法句型
not a penny
worth every penny
by a penny
用法筆記
Usually appears in fixed patterns such as 'not a penny', 'every penny', and 'by a penny'. Distinguish from senses 1-3: here the focus is not the coin itself, but the idea of even the smallest sum.
常見錯誤
penny — suffix
1. added to a number in older compounds to mark an item's price in pence.
added to a number in older compounds to mark an item's price in pence.
The museum displayed a ticket for a threepenny bus ride.
[number]-penny + noun for old prices
Grandpa still talks about a fourpenny loaf from his school days.
At the fair, Nora bought a twopenny toy drum.
The old menu offered a sixpenny lunch with tea.
文法句型
[number]-penny + noun
用法筆記
Used in old-fashioned or historical price compounds, usually written as one word with the number. Distinguish from combining form sense 1: here the number shows price, not nail size.
常見錯誤
penny — combining form
1. joined to a number before 'nail' to name a traditional nail size used in buildin
joined to a number before 'nail' to name a traditional nail size used in building.
The carpenter asked for eight-penny nails to fix the fence boards.
[number]-penny nails for size, not price
For the roof frame, they used longer ten-penny nails.
The old toolbox still had a few sixteen-penny nails inside.
At the hardware store, Mia compared six-penny and eight-penny nails.
文法句型
[number]-penny nail(s)
用法筆記
Almost always appears before 'nail' or 'nails' in building vocabulary. Distinguish from suffix sense 1: here the number marks the traditional size label, not how much something cost.