[pipe] n [ME, fr. OE pipa (akin to OHG pfifa pipe), fr. (assumed) VL pipa pipe, fr. L pipare to peep, of imit. origin] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a tubular wind instrument; specif: 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--usu. used in pl. d (1): voice, vocal cord--usu. used in pl. (2): piping 1
2: a long tube or hollow body for conducting a liquid, gas, or finely divided solid or for structural purposes 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 esp. for wine and oil b: any of various units of liquid capacity based on the size of a pipe; esp: a unit equal to
2. hogsheads
5: a device for smoking usu. consisting of a tube having a bowl at one end and a mouthpiece at the other
6: snap 2c, cinch -- pipe.ful n -- pipe.less adj -- pipe.like adj
[2]pipe vb piped ; pip.ing vi (bef. 12c) 1 a: to play on a pipe b: to convey orders by signals on a boatswain's pipe
2. a: to speak in a high or shrill voice b: to emit a shrill sound ~ vt 1 a: to play (a tune) on a pipe b: to utter in the shrill tone of a pipe
2. a: to lead or cause to go with pipe music b (1): to call or direct by the boatswain's pipe (2): to receive aboard or attend the departure of by sounding a boatswain's pipe
3: to trim with piping
4: to furnish or equip with pipes
5: to convey by or as if by pipes; esp: to transmit by wire or coaxial cable
6: notice