Definition/Meaning of pica

• English - Noun: pica (countable and uncountable, plural picas) (uncountable, usually) A disorder characterize d by appetite and craving for non-edible substances , such as chalk , clay , dirt , ice , or sand . 1986, George S Baroff, Mental retardation: nature, cause, and management: The three most common nonfood picas were eating of strings and rags; feces, vomit, and urine; and paper, cigarettes, and soil.…
• English - Anagrams: ACPI , paci
• English - References: ^ Type Foundry blog: Type bodies compared
• English - Etymology: Etymology 1. Borrowed from Latin pīca (“jay; mag pie ”). Doublet of pie (“magpie”). * (pathology): From the idea that magpies will eat almost anything. Etymology 2. From Medieval Latin pica (“pica: a service book ”), possibly from Latin pīca (“ magpie ”) after the piebald appearance of the type set page (cf. pie (“ disordered type”)). The relation to the printer's measure is unclear, as no…
• English - Pronunciation: (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈpaɪkə/ (General American) IPA: /ˈpaɪkə/ Rhymes: -aɪkə Homophone: pika Homophone: pika Homophone: pika