piping

American  

[pahy-ping] / ˈpaɪ pɪŋ /

noun

1. pipes collectively; a system or network of pipes.

2. material formed into a pipe or pipes.

3. the act of a person or thing that pipes.

4. the sound of pipes.

5. a shrill sound.

6. the music of pipes.

7. a cordlike ornamentation made of icing, used on pastry.

8. a tubular band of ornamental material, sometimes containing a cord, used for trimming the edges and seams of clothing, upholstery, etc.

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adjective

1. characterized by the peaceful music of the pipe.

2. playing on a musical pipe.

3. that pipes.

4. emitting a shrill sound.

   a piping voice.

idioms

1. piping hot, (of food or drink) very hot.

piping British  

/ ˈpaɪpɪŋ /

noun

1. pipes collectively, esp pipes formed into a connected system, as in the plumbing of a house

2. a cord of icing, whipped cream, etc, often used to decorate desserts and cakes

3. a thin strip of covered cord or material, used to edge hems, etc

4. the sound of a pipe or a set of bagpipes

5. the art or technique of playing a pipe or bagpipes

6. a shrill voice or sound, esp a whistling sound

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adjective

1. making a shrill sound

2. archaic relating to the pipe (associated with peace), as opposed to martial instruments, such as the fife or trumpet

adverb

1. extremely hot

Other Word Forms

• pipingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of piping

1200–50; Middle English (gerund); see pipe ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

He wore a dark blue jersey with red-and-white piping.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

As a result she is currently unable to fulfill her dream of studying traditional piping at Glasgow's Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

It doesn’t require architectural ambition or a steady hand with a piping bag.

From Salon • Feb. 3, 2026

Copper has uses including piping, circuit boards and wiring.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

Ma slipped piping hot baked potatoes into their pockets to keep their fingers warm, and Aunt Eliza’s flatirons were hot on the stove, ready to put at their feet in the sled.

From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder