py

Noun

pack-year (plural pack-years, abbreviation PY or py)

1. A unit of measure for estimating the number of cigarettes a person has previously smoked, equivalent to average number of packs (each containing 20 cigarettes) smoked per day multiplied by the number of years the person has smoked.

Preposition

by

1. Near or next to.
   • The mailbox is by the bus stop.
2. From one side of something to the other, passing close by; past.
   • The stream runs by our back door.
3. Not later than (the given time); not later than the end of (the given time interval); before.
   • Be back by ten o'clock!
4. After a given amount of time has elapsed or a given event has occurred.
   • By February, we were all sick of the cold.
5. Following a passive verb.
   • The matter was decided by the chairman.
6. Following a noun.
   • There was a call by the unions for a 30% pay rise.

See all 30 meanings of by