ped
pɛd
What a pedal, a pedestrian and 'expedite' share
The picture A single foot on the ground: pressing down, walking on, getting caught and then freed. ped is the foot on the ground; man is the hand taking hold.
Where the picture shows up in ped
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The plate the foot presses
Press the foot pedal to open the bin.
prɛs ðə fʊt ˈpɛdl tuː ˈoʊpən ðə bɪn
Open the bin by stepping on the pedal.
The ball of a foot pushing a metal plate down until the lid springs open.
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The one who goes on foot
Use the pedestrian crossing over there.
juːz ðə pəˈdɛstriən ˈkrɔːsɪŋ ˈoʊvər ðɛr
Cross at the crossing over there.
Somebody walking the white stripes on their own two feet instead of driving.
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Looking after the feet
She gets a pedicure once a month.
ʃiː ɡɛts ə ˈpɛdɪkjʊr wʌns ə mʌnθ
She gets her feet done once a month.
A foot lifted from the water onto a towel while each nail is shaped in turn.
A manicure is hands; a pedicure is feet.
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Counting the steps
My pedometer says nine thousand steps.
maɪ pəˈdɑːmɪtər sɛz naɪn ˈθaʊzənd stɛps
My step counter says nine thousand.
A small device at the waist ticking one number higher with every footfall.
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Getting the foot unstuck
Can you expedite this order for us?
kæn juː ˈɛkspədaɪt ðɪs ˈɔːrdər fɔːr ʌs
Could you rush this order through for us?
A foot tangled in vines pulled loose, and the walker striding straight off.
ex- means out — free the foot from what holds it and the work speeds up.
All of it in one picture
ped is one foot set on the ground. The plate the foot presses is a pedal; the one crossing on their own two feet is a pedestrian. Look after the feet and it is a pedicure; count the steps and it is a pedometer; pull a caught foot free so things move and you expedite. So when you see ped, think foot before hand.