pitch

The word "pitch" has many meanings, and the right one depends on the situation. One older meaning is a dark, thick, sticky substance made from resin or tar and used to seal surfaces such as roofs, wood, or boats. This older sense also appears in the expression pitch-black, which means completely dark. In construction, the pitch of a roof is its slope or steepness.

In music and sound, pitch refers to how high or low a note or sound seems. A high pitch sounds sharp or thin, while a low pitch sounds deep. This is one of the most common meanings outside sports and business.

In sports, pitch is a verb meaning to throw, especially in baseball, where the pitcher throws the ball to the batter. In British English, a pitch is also the field where games such as soccer or rugby are played.

In business, media, and everyday conversation, a pitch is a presentation meant to persuade someone. It may be a sales pitch, a startup pitch, or simply a short talk to win support for an idea. The word can also be used as a verb in this sense: you can pitch an idea to a team, a client, or an investor. There are a few other uses too, but these meanings cover most situations you are likely to meet.