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definitions

peep

1
[ peep ]
/ pip /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peep ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

to show or protrude slightly.

noun

RELATED WORDS

blink, glance, glimpse, look, peer, snatch, snoop, spy, squint, stare, emerge

Nearby words

  1. peelings,
  2. peely-wally,
  3. peen,
  4. peene,
  5. peenemünde,
  6. peep show,
  7. peep sight,
  8. peep-hole,
  9. peep-show,
  10. peepee

Origin of peep

1
1425–75; late Middle English pepe; assimilated variant of peek
SYNONYMS FOR peep
1, 2. 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.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peep ON THESAURUS.COM

peep

2
[ peep ]
/ pip /

noun

a short, shrill little cry or sound, as of a young bird; cheep; squeak.
any of various small sandpipers.
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)

to utter the short, shrill little cry of a young bird, a mouse, etc.; cheep; squeak.
to speak in a thin, weak voice.

Origin of peep

2
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 orig.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peeping

British Dictionary definitions for peeping

peep

1
/ (piːp) /

verb (intr)

to look furtively or secretly, as through a small aperture or from a hidden place
to appear partially or brieflythe sun peeped through the clouds

noun

a quick or furtive look
the first appearancethe peep of dawn

Word Origin for peep

C15: variant of peek

peep

2
/ (piːp) /

verb (intr)

(esp of young birds) to utter shrill small noises
to speak in a thin shrill voice

noun

a peeping sound
US any of various small sandpipers of the genus Calidris (or Erolia) and related genera, such as the pectoral sandpiper

Word Origin for peep

C15: of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for peeping
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for peeping

PEEP

abbr.

positive end-expiratory pressure
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with peeping

peep

see hear a peep out of.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.