penny

Universal Words noun (plural pennies or pence) HELPNOTE In senses 1 and 2, pennies is used to refer to the coins, and pence to refer to an amount of money. In sense 3, the plural is pennies. 1 (abbreviation p) a small British coin and unit of money. There are 100 pence in one pound (｣1): He had a few pennies in his pocket. * That will be 45 pence, please. * They cost 20p each. 2 (abbreviation d) a British coin in use until 1971. There were twelve pennies in one SHILLING. 3 (AmE) a cent IDIOMS every penny all of the money: We collected ｣700 and every penny went to charity. * She's on a high salary but I'm sure she deserves every penny. in for a penny, in for a pound (BrE, saying) used to say that since you have started to do sth, it is worth spending as much time or money as you need to in order to complete it not a penny no money at all: It didn't cost a penny. * He has never paid me a penny. * She hasn't got a penny to her name. the penny drops (informal, especially BrE) used to say that sb has finally understood or realized sth that they had not understood or realized before: I had to explain the joke to her a couple of times before the penny dropped. a penny for your thoughts