penny

[[t]pe̱ni[/t]]

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pennies, pence

(The form pence is used for the plural of meaning 1.)

1) N-COUNT In Britain, a penny is one hundredth of a pound, or a coin worth this amount of money.

Cider also goes up by a penny a pint while sparkling wine will cost another eight pence a bottle.

...a shiny newly minted penny.

2) N-COUNT A penny is a British coin used before 1971 that was worth one twelfth of a shilling.

3) N-COUNT A penny is one cent, or a coin worth one cent. [AM, INFORMAL]

Unleaded gasoline rose more than a penny a gallon.

4) N-SING: a N (emphasis) If you say, for example, that you do not have a penny, or that something does not cost a penny, you are emphasizing that you do not have any money at all, or that something did not cost you any money at all.

From the day you arrive at my house, you need not spend a single penny...

The Brilliantons paid their rent on time and did not owe him a penny...

I asked her if he had given her any money. `Not a penny.'

5) PHRASE: V inflects If you say the penny dropped, you mean that someone suddenly understood or realized something. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL]

`Did he know who you are?' - `I think so. I think the penny dropped.'

6) PHRASE: V inflects (politeness) If someone says that they are going to spend a penny, they mean that they are going to go to the toilet. [BRIT, OLD-FASHIONED]

7) PHRASE: v-link PHR Things that are said to be two a penny or ten a penny are not valuable or interesting because they are very common and easy to find. [BRIT, INFORMAL]

Leggy blondes are two a penny in Hollywood.

(in AM, use a dime a dozen)

8) PHRASE: v-link PHR (emphasis) If you say that something or someone is worth every penny, you mean that they are worth all the money that is spent on them.

The operation cost ₤100,000 and it was worth every penny...

The directors of this company feel he's worth every penny.