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

peep Synonyms

peep

n.

  1. A peek

    glimpse, glance, sight; see look 3.

  2. A peeping sound

    cheep, chirp, hoot; see cry 2.

peep Synonyms

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.

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

  • through: There's lots of small holes which I can peep through in all directions.
  • out: Seen from the old bridge over the river, the tower peeps out from the trees like a child over a fence.
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

Browse dictionary entries near peep

  1. peen
  2. peeling
  3. peeler
  4. peel
  5. peekaboo
  6. peek
  7. Peebles
  8. Pee Dee
  9. pee
  10. pedunculate
  1. peep show
  2. peep sight
  3. peeper
  4. peephole
  5. Peeping Tom
  6. peepul
  7. peer
  8. peer group
  9. peer-reviewed
  10. Peer-to-Peer