peep

¹

[peep]

verb (used without object)

1. to look through a small opening or from a concealed location.

2. to look slyly, pryingly, or furtively.

3. to look curiously or playfully.

4. to come partially into view; begin to appear.

   the first crocuses peeping through the snow-covered ground.

verb (used with object)

1. to show or protrude slightly.

noun

1. a quick or furtive look or glance.

2. the first appearance, as of dawn.

3. an aperture for looking through.

peep

²

[peep]

noun

1. a short, shrill little cry or sound, as of a young bird; cheep; squeak.

2. any of various small sandpipers.

3. a slight sound or remark, especially in complaint.

   I don't want to hear a peep out of any of you!

verb (used without object)

1. to utter the short, shrill little cry of a young bird, a mouse, etc.; cheep; squeak.

2. to speak in a thin, weak voice.

peep

³

[peep]

noun

1. Jeep.

peep

¹

/ piːp /

verb

1. to look furtively or secretly, as through a small aperture or from a hidden place

2. to appear partially or briefly

   the sun peeped through the clouds

noun

1. a quick or furtive look

2. the first appearance

   the peep of dawn

peep

²

/ piːp /

verb

1. (esp of young birds) to utter shrill small noises

2. to speak in a thin shrill voice

noun

1. a peeping sound

2. any of various small sandpipers of the genus Calidris (or Erolia ) and related genera, such as the pectoral sandpiper

Word History and Origins

Origin of peep¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English pepe; assimilated variant of peek

Origin of peep²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English pepen, pipen; compare Dutch, German piepen, Old French piper, Latin pipāre, Greek pippízein, Czech pípat, Lithuanian pỹpti, all ultimately of imitative origin

Origin of peep³

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; apparently alteration of Jeep ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of peep¹

C15: variant of _peek

Origin of peep²

C15: of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

see hear a peep out of.

Synonym Study

Peep, peek, peer mean to look through, over, or around something. To peep or peek is usually to give a quick look through a narrow aperture or small opening, often furtively, slyly, or pryingly, or to look over or around something curiously or playfully: to peep over a wall; to peek into a room. Peek is often associated with children's games. To peer is to look continuously and narrowly for some time, especially in order to penetrate obscurity or to overcome some obstacle in the way of vision: The firefighter peered through the smoke.

Example Sentences

There were holes in the walls of their room, "like peep holes", but because Fred was always busy doing odd jobs they assumed it was random projects he had started.

Read more on BBC

Their bond, Douglass said, was worth “all the wealth” of “the most successful conqueror,” for it gave him a “peep into that noble soul.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I turn, and see a puppet peeping his head out of a secret opening of a door.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the attached photo, Mosquera sports a thick white beard, with tattoos peeping out of his orange shirt, and is described as a "latin king street gang member" convicted of "first-degree murder".

Read more on Barron's

This time around, hardly a peep has been heard.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• hoot