pellet

[/ˈpɛlɪt/]
nounpl: pellets
pelota; grânulo; pílula
1. a small, rounded or cylindrical object, typically made of compressed material
The bird feeder is filled with seed pellets.
O comedouro de pássaros está cheio de pelotas de sementes.
2. a small ball of lead or other material used as ammunition in air rifles or shotguns
He loaded the air rifle with pellets before target practice.
Ele carregou o rifle de ar com pelotas antes do treinamento de tiro.
3. a small tablet or capsule, especially of medicine or supplement
She takes vitamin pellets every morning.
Ela toma pelotas de vitamina toda manhã.
4. a small piece of waste material produced by an animal, especially an owl
The researcher examined the owl pellet to determine its diet.
O pesquisador examinou a pelota da coruja para determinar sua dieta.
5. compressed fuel material used for heating or cooking
Wood pellets are an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels.
As pelotas de madeira são uma alternativa ecológica aos combustíveis fósseis.
In Brazil, 'pellet' is commonly used in environmental contexts when discussing renewable energy sources like wood pellets for heating. The term is also widely understood in hunting and air sport contexts. Portugal uses similar terminology but with slightly more technical precision in industrial applications.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
ballbeadgranulepilltabletsphere

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pelota; grânulo
Most common usage for compressed materials and ammunition
Rio de Janeiro
pelota
Preferred term in casual speech
São Paulo
grânulo; pelota
Both terms widely accepted in technical contexts
Portugal
pelota; grânulo
Similar usage to Brazilian Portuguese, though grânulo preferred for smaller particles

Related Words

ammunitiongranulepelletizecompressedround

Related Idioms & Phrases

pellet gun
wood pellets
pellet stove
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