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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peter Peter

More of those smart gags would have been welcome, but they peter out after half an hour or so.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

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

Economists predict the current wave of inflation is likely to peter out later in the year, but they are uncertain as to when and by how much.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 15, 2026

On the fifth block, I can tell that we’ve reached the point where the wave began to peter out.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

The Reform leader of Essex County Council Peter Harris has also been approached for comment.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Gardner, a software developer living near Asheville, N.C., came up with the idea after soldiering through “King Kong,” Peter Jackson’s 187-minute epic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Writing in The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw called it a "thoroughly engaging, rousing and spectacular Indian epic melodrama".

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

Given the tragic circumstances that brought him to Peter, you wait for the moment when grief and anger bubble up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

Peter went to help him down, and once we had seen Marlene safely back in her stable, we all walked away.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

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