piper

[ pahy-per ]

/ ˈpaɪ pər /

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Definition of piper

noun

a person who plays on a pipe.

a bagpiper.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Idioms about piper

pay the piper,

to pay the cost of something.
to bear the unfavorable consequences of one's actions or pleasures: Someday he'll have to pay the piper for all that gambling.

Origin of piper

before 1000; Middle English; Old English pīpere.See pipe¹, -er¹

Words nearby piper

pipelining, pipe major, pip emma, pipe of peace, pipe organ, piper, piperaceous, piperacillin, piperacillin sodium, pipe rack, piperazine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use piper in a sentence

The life Piper longs for, whether with Larry or Alex, might not look much different.
Orange Is the New Weeds: The Adventures of Jenji Kohan Across the 8th Dimension|Rich Goldstein, Emily Shire|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sure, Nancy has the fish-out-of-water thing going on, but that attribute often defines Piper.
Orange Is the New Weeds: The Adventures of Jenji Kohan Across the 8th Dimension|Rich Goldstein, Emily Shire|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
OITNB has so far neglected to grace Alex with a sibling, but Piper has a brother who has figured prominently.
Orange Is the New Weeds: The Adventures of Jenji Kohan Across the 8th Dimension|Rich Goldstein, Emily Shire|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It would not be unreasonable to assume Piper might do the same to Litchfield if given the opportunity.
Orange Is the New Weeds: The Adventures of Jenji Kohan Across the 8th Dimension|Rich Goldstein, Emily Shire|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Although her age is never explicitly stated, Nancy is not considerably older than Piper (the real Kerman went to jail at 35).
Orange Is the New Weeds: The Adventures of Jenji Kohan Across the 8th Dimension|Rich Goldstein, Emily Shire|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the Great Southern were the real promoters of both; they paid the piper and, therefore, called the tune.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
The piper was taken away senseless, but my brother would not suffer either Joe or Alley to be disturbed till breakfast was ready.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Dorothy's slight figure came hurtling out of the pit's mouth, tossed to their very feet by the long arms of Peter Piper.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
As they came up Peter Piper cast one glance upon them, then hid his face and shuddered.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
By the blessed piper that played before Moses, here's an Irish Turk!
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng

British Dictionary definitions for piper (1 of 2)

piper

/ (ˈpaɪpə) /

noun

a person who plays a pipe or bagpipes

pay the piper and call the tune to bear the cost of an undertaking and control it

British Dictionary definitions for piper (2 of 2)

Piper

/ (ˈpaɪpə) /

noun

John. 1903–92, British artist. An official war artist in World War II, he is known esp for his watercolours of bombed churches and his stained glass in Coventry Cathedral

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with piper

piper

see call the tune (pay the piper).