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.

---

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

---

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

It’s not too late to save the whooping crane, the red-cockaded woodpecker, the piping plover or any of the other 86 birds on the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

He wore a dark blue jersey with red-and-white piping.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

It doesn’t require architectural ambition or a steady hand with a piping bag.

From Salon • Feb. 3, 2026

Your daughter made you a lukewarm cup of tea, and you are rewarding her with a piping hot mug of the finest Colombian coffee.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026

The ad pictured a cup of orange juice and a piping hot blueberry muffin.

From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers