n.
Pronunciation: ' p ī p
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English p ī pa (akin to Old High German pf ī fa pipe), from Vulgar Latin *pipa pipe, from Latin pipare to peep, of imitative origin
Date: before 12th century
1 a : a tubular wind instrument specifically : a small fipple flute held in and played by the left hand b : one of the tubes of a pipe organ: (1) : FLUE PIPE (2) : REED PIPE c : BAGPIPE ― usually used in plural d (1) : VOICE , VOCAL CORD ― usually used in plural (2) : PIPING 1
2 a : a long tube or hollow body for conducting a liquid, gas, or finely divided solid or for structural purposes b : a means of transmission (as of television signals or computer data) <a broadband fiber-optic pipe >
3 a : a tubular or cylindrical object, part, or passage b : a roughly cylindrical and vertical geological formation c : the eruptive channel opening into the crater of a volcano
4 a : a large cask of varying capacity used especially for wine and oil b : any of various units of liquid capacity based on the size of a pipe especially : a unit equal to two hogsheads
5 : a device for smoking usually consisting of a tube having a bowl at one end and a mouthpiece at the other
6 : SNAP 2C , CINCH
– pipe · ful \ - ˌ fu ̇ l \ noun
– pipe · less \ ' p ī p-l ə s \ adjective
– pipe · like \ ' p ī p- ˌ l ī k \ adjective