peep
peep¹
Definition
peep (pēp)
intransitive verb
- to make the short, high-pitched cry of a young bird or chick; chirp; cheep
- to utter a sound or speak in a small, weak voice, as from fear
Etymology: ME pepen: orig. echoic
noun
- a short, high-pitched sound; chirp; cheep
- the slightest vocal sound heard not a peep from him
peep²
Definition
peep (pēp)
intransitive verb
- to look through a small opening or from a place of hiding
- to peer slyly or secretly; take a hasty, furtive look
- to come into view; show or appear gradually or partially, as though from hiding stars peeped through the clouds
Etymology: ME pepen, ? akin to piken, peek
transitive verb
to cause to appear or protrude
noun
- a brief, hasty look or restricted view; secret or furtive glimpse or glance
- the first appearance; crack, as of dawn
peep
Synonyms
peep
Synonyms
peep
v.
peep
Usage Examples
Object
- tom: You're a peeping tom, not a killer.
- round: From behind one pillar I could peep round quietly at the full front of the mansion.
Converse of object
- hear: We haven't heard a peep from Northern Ireland.
- take: Take a peep at the hottest girls from behind closed doors!
Preposition: through
- keyhole: Thus it allows him to peep through the keyhole the Coat of Arms its own birth.
- curtain: So I peeped through the curtains, just to make sure That the woman next door wasn't home.
- window: If she wanted to see him she'd have to go in the bathroom and peep through the little window over the bathtub.
Adjective modifier
- scared: So I first picked up my mask, then I took a scared peep around.
- quick: Because when the shop first opened customers used to ask if they could pop in for a quick peep!
- most: Or do most peeps not bother with safe sex?
- few: Also squaring off a few peeps from active operations.
Preposition: over
- top: He wears a thick, chunky blue sweater with a shirt collar just peeping over the top.
Preposition: behind
- curtain: See it if you are a British politics buff, for the fun of a peep behind the curtain.
Modifies a noun
- toe: Then wear with flat ballet pumps or peep toe heels for 1950s cool.
- hole: A peep hole in the front lets you look through the marvel of the exhibition.
- show: However, we now have a freak show rather than a peep show.
Modifying Another Word
- just: He wears a thick, chunky blue sweater with a shirt collar just peeping over the top.
- there: From the front window upon the left of the door there peeped a glimmer of a feeble light.
Followed by an intransitive particle
peep Quotes
Physician art thou?öone, all eyes, Philosopher!öa fingering slave, One that would peep and botanize Upon his mother's grave?
Browse dictionary entries near peep
- peep show
- peep sight
- peeper
- peephole
- Peeping Tom
- peepul
- peer
- peer group
- peer-reviewed
- Peer-to-Peer
