I. ˈpīp noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pīpa (akin to Old High German pfīfa 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 -ˌfu̇l noun
• pipe·less ˈpīp-ləs adjective
• pipe·like ˈpīp-ˌlīk adjective
II. verb
( piped ; pip·ing )
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
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
transitive verb
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 ; especially : to transmit by wire or coaxial cable
6. : notice