pitch

Everyday

1. A pitch is a field marked out for a sport, like a football, rugby or cricket pitch (mainly UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ). tree →
2. Pitch is how high or low a sound is. tree →
3. To pitch a tent means to put it up. tree →
4. To pitch means to throw a ball, especially in baseball or softball, and a pitch is that throw. tree →
5. Pitch black or pitch dark means completely dark. tree →
6. Pitch is a black sticky substance made from tar. tree →
7. A pitch is a talk to persuade people, like a sales pitch. tree →
8. To pitch can mean to fall forward or a ship rocking up and down. tree →
9. Pitch can also mean the highest or lowest level of something, like a level of excitement. tree →

In the lessons

In science and music lessons: pitch depends on how fast something vibrates; faster vibrations make a higher pitch; short or tight strings and small instruments make high pitches; long, loose strings make low ones. In sport: football pitch (UK) is a field (US), baseball pitcher throws the pitch. Camping: pitch a tent away from rivers and under no dead branches. Phrases: «high-pitched», «low-pitched», «pitch black», «pitch a tent», «pitch in» (join in to help), «sales pitch».

Examples

• The football pitch was muddy after the rain. tree →
• A whistle has a very high pitch. tree →
• Tighten the guitar string to make the pitch higher. tree →
• We pitched our tent near the lake. tree →
• He threw the fastest pitch of the game. tree →
• The cave was pitch black. tree →
• Everyone pitched in to clean up the classroom. tree →
• The mouse made a high-pitched squeak. tree →
• She made a great pitch for her idea. tree →
• His words excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. tree →

Note

Plural and verb with he/she/it: «pitches». Pitch (how high or low) is different from volume (how loud or quiet). A football «pitch» in the UK is a «field» in the US. A «pitcher» is a baseball thrower and also, in the US, a jug.

In Jewish tradition

"Pitched in" a place means the people stopped and camped there, as in the lists of Israel's journeys; Noah also sealed the ark with pitch.

Interpretation. The long list of camps teaches that each stop in the desert was remembered as part of God's guidance.

Examples

• And they journeyed from Dophkah, and pitched in Alush. (Torah NUM.33.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah, and pitched in Hazeroth. (Torah NUM.33.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they journeyed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah. (Torah NUM.33.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. (Prophets 2SA.17.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves against Lehi. (Prophets JDG.15.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. (Prophets 1SA.26.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural and verb with he/she/it: «pitches». Pitch (how high or low) is different from volume (how loud or quiet). A football «pitch» in the UK is a «field» in the US. A «pitcher» is a baseball thrower and also, in the US, a jug.

Early Modern English

Meaning

In the Torah "pitch" means to set up a tent or camp; in the fairy tale it means a high degree, as in "to the highest pitch". tree →

Then and now

Today "pitch" as a verb means to throw or set up a tent, and as a noun a sports field or sound level; the old sense (set up camp, or degree) is used here.

Examples

• The families of the Gershonites were to pitch behind the tabernacle westward; (Torah NUM.3.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• His words excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. (The Arabian Nights Entertainments) tree →
• The families of the sons of Kohath were to pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward; (Torah NUM.3.29, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: set up; degree, level.