pellet

/ˈpɛlɪt/
noun
  1. A small, rounded piece of material, often made by compressing a substance.
    • The rabbit's food came in small, green pellets that looked like tiny pills.
    • The farmer spread fertilizer pellets across the field to help the crops grow.
    • He loaded the air rifle with a single lead pellet.
  2. A small ball of undigested food (such as fur or bones) that an animal (like an owl) coughs up.
    • The biology class dissected an owl pellet to see what the owl had eaten.
    • The naturalist showed the children a pellet from a hawk.
    • Owl pellets often contain the bones and fur of small rodents.
  3. A small piece of material, such as plastic or metal, used in manufacturing or as raw material.
    • The factory melted plastic pellets to make new toys.
    • The artist used tiny metal pellets to create a textured sculpture.
    • Wood pellets are burned in special stoves to heat homes.
verb
  1. To form or shape into small, rounded pieces.
    • The machine pellets the powdered clay into small beads for pottery.
    • The company pellets recycled plastic to create new raw materials.
    • Farmers often pellet animal feed to make it easier for livestock to eat.
  2. To hit or strike with small, hard objects (like pellets).
    • Rain pellets the window, making it hard to see outside.
    • Hail pellets the roof during the storm, making a loud clatter.
    • The children playfully pelted each other with soft foam pellets.
Synonyms
What does "pellet" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean