peep Hear it!

peep1 definition

peep (pēp)

intransitive verb

  1. to make the short, high-pitched cry of a young bird or chick; chirp; cheep
  2. to utter a sound or speak in a small, weak voice, as from fear

Etymology: ME pepen: orig. echoic

noun

  1. a short, high-pitched sound; chirp; cheep
  2. the slightest vocal sound heard not a peep from him
peep2 definition

peep (pēp)

intransitive verb

  1. to look through a small opening or from a place of hiding
  2. to peer slyly or secretly; take a hasty, furtive look
  3. 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

  1. a brief, hasty look or restricted view; secret or furtive glimpse or glance
  2. the first appearance; crack, as of dawn

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms peep idiom

medical PEEP definition - medical

peep Synonyms

peep

n.

  1. A peek

    glimpse, glance, sight; see look 3.

  2. A peeping sound

    cheep, chirp, hoot; see cry 2.


peep

v.

  1. To look cautiously

    peek, glimpse, glance; see look 2, see 1.

  2. To make a peeping sound

    cheep, chirp, squeak; see cry 3.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

peep Usage Examples

Object

  • tom: You're a peeping tom, not a killer.

Converse of object

  • hear: We haven't heard a peep from Northern Ireland.

Preposition: through

  • keyhole: Thus it allows him to peep through the keyhole the Coat of Arms its own birth.

Adjective modifier

  • scared: So I first picked up my mask, then I took a scared peep around.

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.

Modifying Another Word

  • just: He wears a thick, chunky blue sweater with a shirt collar just peeping over the top.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • through: There's lots of small holes which I can peep through in all directions.
peep usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

peep quotes

Physician art thou?öone, all eyes, Philosopher!öa fingering slave, One that would peep and botanize Upon his mother's grave?

-Wordsworth,William

peep quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"peep." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/peep>

APA Style

peep. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/peep

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