piping

American  

[pahy-ping] / ˈpaɪ pɪŋ /

noun

1. pipes collectively; a system or network of pipes.

2. material formed into a pipe or pipes.

3. the act of a person or thing that pipes.

4. the sound of pipes.

5. a shrill sound.

6. the music of pipes.

7. a cordlike ornamentation made of icing, used on pastry.

8. a tubular band of ornamental material, sometimes containing a cord, used for trimming the edges and seams of clothing, upholstery, etc.

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adjective

1. characterized by the peaceful music of the pipe.

2. playing on a musical pipe.

3. that pipes.

4. emitting a shrill sound.

   a piping voice.

idioms

1. piping hot, (of food or drink) very hot.

piping British  

/ ˈpaɪpɪŋ /

noun

1. pipes collectively, esp pipes formed into a connected system, as in the plumbing of a house

2. a cord of icing, whipped cream, etc, often used to decorate desserts and cakes

3. a thin strip of covered cord or material, used to edge hems, etc

4. the sound of a pipe or a set of bagpipes

5. the art or technique of playing a pipe or bagpipes

6. a shrill voice or sound, esp a whistling sound

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adjective

1. making a shrill sound

2. archaic relating to the pipe (associated with peace), as opposed to martial instruments, such as the fife or trumpet

adverb

1. extremely hot

Other Word Forms

• pipingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of piping

1200–50; Middle English (gerund); see pipe ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Piping on the waistcoat is “a kick” to stand out against judges in black.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Last Thursday, the show opened in the National Piping Centre, with some changes to the staging.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Piping would route this water to the edge of the property and then send it into the lake just across the roadway.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 13, 2023

Piping the meringue with a closed-star tip makes myriad gorgeous ridges that toast dark and dramatic, leaving negative white space in the divots.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2017

And now I am very anxious to see Piping Rock, as I soon expect to do.

From The Happy Golfer Being Some Experiences, Reflections, and a Few Deductions of a Wandering Golfer by Leach, Henry