peep1

[peep] /pip/
verb (used without object)
1.
to look through a small opening or from a concealed location.
2.
to look slyly, pryingly, or furtively.
3.
to look curiously or playfully.
4.
to come partially into view; begin to appear:
the first crocuses peeping through the snow-covered ground.
verb (used with object)
5.
to show or protrude slightly.
noun
6.
a quick or furtive look or glance.
7.
the first appearance, as of dawn.
8.
an aperture for looking through.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English pepe; assimilated variant of peek
Synonyms
1, 2. Peep, peek, peer mean to look through, over, or around something. To peep or peek is usually to give a quick look through a narrow aperture or small opening, often furtively, slyly, or pryingly, or to look over or around something curiously or playfully: to peep over a wall; to peek into a room. Peek is often associated with children's games. To peer is to look continuously and narrowly for some time, especially in order to penetrate obscurity or to overcome some obstacle in the way of vision: The firefighter peered through the smoke.

peep2

[peep] /pip/
noun
1.
a short, shrill little cry or sound, as of a young bird; cheep; squeak.
2.
any of various small sandpipers.
3.
a slight sound or remark, especially in complaint:
I don't want to hear a peep out of any of you!
verb (used without object)
4.
to utter the short, shrill little cry of a young bird, a mouse, etc.; cheep; squeak.
5.
to speak in a thin, weak voice.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English pepen, pipen; compare Dutch, German piepen, Old French piper, Latin pipāre, Greek pippízein, Czech pípat, Lithuanian pỹpti, all ultimately of imitative orig.

peep3

[peep] /pip/
noun
1.
jeep.
Origin
1940-45, Americanism; apparently alteration of jeep
British Dictionary definitions for peep

peep1

/piːp/
verb (intransitive)
1.
to look furtively or secretly, as through a small aperture or from a hidden place
2.
to appear partially or briefly: the sun peeped through the clouds
noun
3.
a quick or furtive look
4.
the first appearance: the peep of dawn
Word Origin
C15: variant of peek

peep2

/piːp/
verb (intransitive)
1.
(esp of young birds) to utter shrill small noises
2.
to speak in a thin shrill voice
noun
3.
a peeping sound
4.
(US) any of various small sandpipers of the genus Calidris (or Erolia) and related genera, such as the pectoral sandpiper
Word Origin
C15: of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for peep
v.

"glance" (especially through a small opening), mid-15c., perhaps alteration of Middle English piken (see peek (v.)). Peeping Tom "a curious prying fellow" [Grose] is from 1796; connection with Lady Godiva story dates only from 1837.

"make a short chirp," c.1400, probably altered from pipen (mid-13c.), ultimately imitative (cf. Latin pipare, French pepier, German piepen, Lithuanian pypti, Czech pipati, Greek pipos).

n.

1520s, first in sense found in peep of day, from peep (v.1); meaning "a furtive glance" is first recorded 1730.

"short chirp," early 15c., from peep (v.2); meaning "slightest sound or utterance" (usually in a negative context) is attested from 1903. Meaning "young chicken" is from 1680s. The marshmallow peeps confection are said to date from 1950s.

peep in Medicine

PEEP abbr.
positive end-expiratory pressure

Slang definitions & phrases for peep

peep

noun
  1. A word; the slightest sound: If I hear a peep out of you, you've had it (1903+)
  2. People •Often plural

Related Abbreviations for peep

PEEP

positive end-expiratory pressure
Idioms and Phrases with peep

peep

see: hear a peep out of