1. 药丸；丸剂
    Pills are small solid round masses of medicine or vitamins that you swallow without chewing.

pill

    e.g. Why do I have to take all these pills?
           我为什么非得服下所有这些药丸呢？
    e.g. ...sleeping pills.
           安眠药

2. （女用）口服避孕药
    If a woman is on the pill, she takes a special pill that prevents her from becoming pregnant.

    e.g. She had been on the pill for three years.
           她吃口服避孕药已有3年。
    e.g. ...the contraceptive pill.
           避孕药丸

3. 不得不承受的苦事；不得不接受的现实
    If a person or group has to accept a failure or an unpleasant piece of news, you can say that it was a bitter pill or a bitter pill to swallow .

pill

    e.g. You're too old to be given a job. That's a bitter pill to swallow.
           你年龄太大了，没人愿意再给工作，这是你不得不接受的现实。

4. 把苦药包上糖衣；使不愉快的事变得较易接受
    If someone does something to sweeten the pill or sugar the pill, they do it to make some unpleasant news or an unpleasant measure more acceptable.

    e.g. He sweetened the pill by increasing wages, although by slightly less than he raised prices.
           他提高了工资以使人们更易接受，尽管涨幅略低于他的价格升幅。