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plethera 

a large group of pinatas.
there was a plethera of pinatas at his birthday.
plethera by thisismyaccount60 December 23, 2010

plethera 

i went to the store and bought a plethera of Candy canes
plethera by Colbyy January 4, 2008

plethora effect 

The "plethora effect" is when kids use words in college application or SAT essays that sound good but they don't really know the meaning of. Sometimes they'll accidentally use thme as words that sound similar but have completely different meanings (for example, accidentally saying homeliness instead of homelessness) or sometimes they'll just be totally wrong. It was given the name a few years ago when someone decided that "plethora" was a 'good SAT word' and everyone started using it in college essays, much to the chagrin of the people who actually read the things. It's basically a result of kids prepping for the SAT and college process too much. (Starting SAT review books in middle school, taking tons of Princeton Review classes, etc.) Can sometimes be helped with the use of spellcheck.
Admissions person 1: "Look at this, this girl's essay is about how 'fragile and venerable' she was as a middle schooler, and how much she's grown."

Admissions person 2: "That's the plethora effect for you..."
plethora effect by ZenGwen May 21, 2006

plethora 

1. More than a few.
2. A quantity in excess of what is actually practical; an exorbitant amount.
3. Lots.
4. Tons.
Would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?
plethora by Dan February 23, 2004

plethora 

noun.

1. an excessive amount.

2. A lot.

This word is primarily used with great imprecision by inarticulate, pretentious college undergraduates who wish to express no more than "a lot," but want to do it with as many syllables and as annoyingly as possible.
Unbearable undergraduate#1: I just drank a plethora of coffee so I can study for the test today.
Unbearable Undergraduate#2: Dude, me too. I hope there's not a plethora of questions.
plethora by Bourbon Diction Andy October 15, 2009

plethora 

I was at a funeral and someone came up to me asking for permission to say a word at the front. I said of course and he stood up to say one word, ‘plethora’. I said ‘thankyou, it means a lot’