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• peter
  peter

  verb (used without object)

  to diminish gradually and stop; dwindle to nothing; gradually come to an end (usually followed by out oraway ): The hearings petered to an inevitable conclusion.
• Peter
  Peter

  noun

  died a.d. 67?, one of the 12 apostles and the reputed author of two of the Epistles.

peter

¹ American  

[pee-ter] / ˈpi tər /

verb (used without object)

1. to diminish gradually and stop; dwindle to nothing; gradually come to an end (usually followed by out oraway ): The hearings petered to an inevitable conclusion.

   The criticism seems to have petered out.

   The hearings petered to an inevitable conclusion.

2. to tire; become exhausted (usually followed byout ).

   I began to peter out after walking about 2 miles.

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peter ² American  

[pee-ter] / ˈpi tər /

noun

Slang: Vulgar.

1. penis.

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peter ³ American  

[pee-ter] / ˈpi tər /

noun

Whist.

1. a signal for an echo.

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Peter ⁴ American  

[pee-ter] / ˈpi tər /

noun

1. Also called Simon Peter.  died a.d. 67?, one of the 12 apostles and the reputed author of two of the Epistles.

2. either of these two Epistles in the New Testament, I Peter or II Peter.

3. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter P.

4. a male given name.

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peter ¹ British  

/ ˈpiːtə /

verb

1. (intr; foll by out or away) to fall (off) in volume, intensity, etc, and finally cease

   the cash petered out in three months

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peter ² British  

/ ˈpiːtə /

verb

1. to play a high card before a low one in a suit, usually a conventional signal of a doubleton holding or of strength in that suit

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noun

1. the act of petering

peter ³ British  

/ ˈpiːtə /

noun

1. a safe, till, or cash box

2. a prison cell

3. the witness box in a courtroom

4. a slang word for penis

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Peter ⁴ British  

/ ˈpiːtə /

noun

1. Saint. Also called: Simon Peter. died ?67 _ad , a fisherman of Bethsaida, who became leader of the apostles and is regarded by Roman Catholics as the first pope; probably martyred at Rome. Feast day: June 29 or Jan 18

2. either of two epistles traditionally ascribed to Peter (in full The First Epistle and The Second Epistle of Peter )

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Peter Cultural  

1. Chief among the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, he was a fisherman, originally named Simon (and often called Simon Peter). Jesus gave him the name Rock, of which “Peter” is a translation. Peter showed great faith but also exhibited great failings (see Get thee behind me, Satan). In the frightening hours before the Crucifixion, Peter three times denied being a follower of Jesus, just as Jesus had predicted he would. Nevertheless, Peter went on to become the leader of the early Christians (see also Christian) (see Pentecost), thus fulfilling another prophecy of Jesus, who had said of Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church …. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”

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Discover More

The great church of the Vatican, Saint Peter's Basilica, was later built on what was believed to be the site of his burial.

Peter is often depicted holding keys. Roman Catholics maintain a number of traditions about Peter: that he was the first of the popes, for example, and that he was martyred at Rome by being crucified upside down, because he refused to be crucified as Jesus had been.

Etymology

Origin of peter¹

First recorded in 1845–50; origin uncertain

Origin of peter²

First recorded in 1870–75; generic use of the proper name

Origin of peter³

First recorded in 1885–90; from blue peter

Origin of Peter⁴

Middle English; Old English Petrus < Latin < Greek Pétros stone, translation of Syriac kēfā

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peter Peter

Those reports are starting to peter out now, but they could still move markets.

From Barron's ● May 11, 2026

While most experts are predicting this hantavirus outbreak will peter out, it’s not the kind of prediction you want to be wrong about either.

From Salon ● May 11, 2026

The game at that stage looked like it was going to peter out to a 0-0 draw.

From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026

Navellier, for his part, told MarketWatch he was “not worried about valuations” and expected the selloff to peter out “sooner rather than later.”

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 18, 2025

On the shell house balcony, down the course, Al Ulbrickson’s hopes silently soared when he saw the boat move, but the move seemed to peter out with the boys still well short of the lead.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Peter Wildeford, head of policy for the AI Policy Network, which has received funding from Tallinn’s Survival and Flourish Fund, quickly reposted Coxon’s message.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Understanding those strategies could provide valuable clues about longevity, according to Peter Sudmant, a Berkeley associate professor of integrative biology who studies the genetics of aging and lifespan.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026

The critically-acclaimed biographical drama about the final monarch of China's Qing dynasty starred Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole and Vivian Wu.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

Tony winner Jefferson Mays stars in a new revival of Peter Shaffer’s ‘Amadeus,’ directed by Tony-winner Darko Tresnjak, at Pasadena Playhouse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

“Then I shall have to go on my own,” Peter told her.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo