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“Pi” or “Pie” or “Pye”

pi / pie / pye are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

pi p·AY

  • nounthe ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle; approximately equal to 3.14159265358979323846....
  • nounthe 16th letter of the Greek alphabet.

pie p·AY

  • noundish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top.

pye p·AY

No dictionary entry for this spelling — see the usage examples below for how it shows up in writing.

Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“pi”

  • …mathematical symbols are examples of pi characters.
  • …flexible metal tube called the pi chute and is then lined…
  • 1966: laureate title at the P.I.
  • She is an alumna of Pi Beta Phi fraternity for women.
  • …is partially delocalized into the pi system of the benzene ring.
  • Humble Pi (2018)
  • …Anthropological Institute, Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Gamma Mu, the Harvard Club…
  • Magnum, P.I.
  • …Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi,…
  • P[i] = P[0]; // Then copies P[0] to P[256]

“pie”

  • Apple pie
  • …including Hurricane Streets and American Pie Presents: The Book of Love,…
  • …rear slicks were Firestone eleven-inch pie crust slicks.
  • …fork, also known as a "pie fork", is a fork designed…
  • …2, 1993 on Key Lime Pie Records and Wilson House Records.
  • Custard pie
  • …the Jazz Age (1920–1928)1920 Eskimo Pie An Eskimo Pie is a…
  • the closed coca: a pie or pastry with filling.
  • …also a National Boston Cream Pie Day observed October 23rd.
  • …of 1971: Don McLean's "American Pie"

“pye”

  • Brydie Pye
  • …Poet Laureate Sir Henry James Pye.
  • …son Pyi Aung (also spelt Pye Aung) is married to Nanda…
  • …Claims of Marriage by Douglas Pye
  • The British companies Pye TMC, Marconi-Elliott and GEC developed…
  • …in the United Kingdom by Pye TMC, Marcno-Elliot and GEC in
  • …released in the UK on Pye International in 1972, as the…
  • Pye Elementary School
  • William Van Der Pye – Disc Jockey

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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