I. peep 1 /piːp/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: Perhaps from peek ]
1 . [intransitive] to look at something quickly and secretly, especially through a hole or opening SYN peek ⇨ peer
peep into/through/out etc
The door was ajar and Helen peeped in.
Henry peeped through the window into the kitchen.
2 . [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if something peeps from somewhere, you can just see a small amount of it
peep through/from/out etc
I could see her toes peeping out from under the sheet.
3 . [transitive] informal to look at something because it is interesting or attractive:
On our website you can peep our video interview with R&B’s newest supergroup.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ look to turn your eyes towards someone or something, so that you can see them:
You should never look directly at the sun.
|
After a while, he turned and looked at me.
▪ have/take a look especially spoken to look at something quickly, especially in order to find or check something:
I’ll have a look in my desk.
|
Take a look at this!
▪ glance to look at someone or something for a short time and then look quickly away:
Damien glanced nervously at his watch.
▪ peek/peep ( also take a peek/peep ) to look quickly at something. Used especially when you are not supposed to look, or when you are looking through a small gap:
The door was open so he peeked inside.
|
Katy peeped at her birthday present on the table.
▪ peer to look very carefully, especially because you cannot see well:
Kenji was peering at the screen.
▪ glare to look at someone in an angry way:
She glared at me as I got up to leave.
▪ stare to look at someone or something for a long time without moving your eyes:
It’s rude to stare.
|
She stared straight into the camera.
▪ gaze to look at someone or something for a long time, often without realizing that you are doing it:
She gazed out of the window.
|
He lay on his bed gazing at the ceiling.
▪ gape to look at someone or something for a long time, usually with your mouth open, because you are very shocked or surprised:
People gaped at him with wide-open mouths.
▪ regard formal to look at someone or something, especially in a particular way:
He regarded her steadily.
II. peep 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Sense 1: Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ peep 1 ]
[ Sense 2-3: Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: From the sound. ]
[ Sense 4: Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: people ]
1 . a quick or secret look at something
peep at/into
Jon took a peep at his watch.
2 . a peep informal a sound that someone makes, or something that they say, especially a complaint:
There has not been a peep out of them since bedtime.
a peep of protest
3 . a short high sound, like the sound a mouse or a young bird makes:
the peep of a chick
loud peeps from the smoke alarm
4 . ( also peeps ) informal a word meaning ‘people’, used in magazines