peer

[ peer ]

/ pɪər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peer ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person of the same legal status: a jury of one's peers.

a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status.

something of equal worth or quality: a sky-scraper without peer.

a nobleman.

a member of any of the five degrees of the nobility in Great Britain and Ireland (duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron).

Archaic. a companion.

Nearby words

peephole, peeping tom, peeps, peepshow, peepul, peer, peer group, peer gynt, peer of the realm, peer pressure, peer review

Origin of peer

1175–1225; Middle English per < Old French per < Latin pār equal

Definition for peer (2 of 2)

peer

[ peer ]

/ pɪər /

verb (used without object)

to look narrowly or searchingly, as in the effort to discern clearly.

to peep out or appear slightly.

to come into view.

Origin of peer

First recorded in 1585–95; perhaps aphetic variant of appear

SYNONYMS FOR peer

1 See peep¹.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peer ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

peer·ing·ly, adverb

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

Examples from the Web for peer

His explanation only diminishes the irresistible excitement we feel while watching Tony Perkins peer at Janet Leigh in her shower.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Notice how he says it is Gore who rejects “openness” and “peer review.”
If You Think D.C. Is Awful Now, Wait Until Wednesday|Jonathan Alter|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As I waited to speak to Manning, a cleaning woman poked her head out from one of the adjacent rooms to peer at me.
‘Crazy’ Harlem Pastor Hates on Obama and Gays|Olivia Nuzzi|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, this leader is roughly a peer of those once-influential figures.
Meet The Democrats’ Secret Savior Against Cuomo Corporatism|James Poulos|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Detectives are then ranked by past performance and peer reviews, gaining or losing influence with each case.
Strangers Diagnose Your Illness and Get Cash in Return|Kevin Zawacki|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stevens lowered his voice, and stopped to peer again about the bush.
The Hunted Woman|James Oliver Curwood
One man went to peer down from the place to which the girl had pointed.
Out of the Depths|Robert Ames Bennet
They gather round the spot where the tin stood and peer into the ground, as though some sprite had bewitched it into the earth.
Sidelights on Chinese Life|J. Macgowan
"I think he must be going to turn radical," said the Warwickshire peer.
Sybil|Benjamin Disraeli
There he stopped to peer into the room through the half-closed door.
A Son of the City|Herman Gastrell Seely

British Dictionary definitions for peer (1 of 2)

peer

/ (pɪə) /

noun

a member of a nobility; nobleman

a person who holds any of the five grades of the British nobility: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baronSee also life peer

a person who is an equal in social standing, rank, age, etc
(as modifier)peer pressure

archaic a companion; mate

Word Origin for peer

C14 (in sense 3): from Old French per, from Latin pār equal

British Dictionary definitions for peer (2 of 2)

peer

/ (pɪə) /

verb (intr)

to look intently with or as if with difficultyto peer into the distance

to appear partially or dimlythe sun peered through the fog

Word Origin for peer

C16: from Flemish pieren to look with narrowed eyes

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