piping

American  

[pahy-ping] / ˈpaɪ pɪŋ /

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.

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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.

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); pipe ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

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

From Salon • Feb. 3, 2026

Checking up before a tight hairpin—braking late, downshifting with the paddle shifters, turning hard into hairpin corners, the weight of the wheel growing heavy, the little engine piping at full spool.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

Your daughter made you a lukewarm cup of tea, and you are rewarding her with a piping hot mug of the finest Colombian coffee.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026

It is made by brushing butter onto a piping hot naan and sprinkling a generous amount of chopped garlic on it.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

In fact, nearly every inn, tavern, and boarding house had some manner of musician strumming, singing, or piping in the background.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss