piping

[pahy-ping]

noun

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

2. material formed into a pipe or pipes. pipe.

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

4. the sound of pipes. pipe.

5. a shrill sound.

6. the music of pipes. pipe.

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.

adjective

1. characterized by the peaceful music of the pipe.

2. playing on a musical pipe.

3. that pipes. pipe.

4. emitting a shrill sound.

   a piping voice.

piping

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of piping¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

Members of the group spent six hours crafting each stocking, using hand embroidery, piping and seam-matching skills.

Read more on BBC

But Carney's memorandum of understanding with Alberta to advance an initiative that involves piping bitumen to Canada's northwest Pacific coast and building a massive port to accommodate oil tankers has drawn outrage.

Read more on Barron's

“Community water systems facing a large-scale fire are bound by their physical limitations,” with the flow rate constrained by the capacity of pumps and the piping network, the report says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The soup course was served, and then a fish course, and finally the main dish was brought out in great kettles, piping hot and fragrant with paprika.

Read more on Literature

“The pleasure is mine, woof!” she said, in her piping voice.

Read more on Literature