I. ˈpēp intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English pepen, of imitative origin
1. : to utter a feeble shrill sound as of a bird hatching or newly hatched : cheep , chirp
a brood of chickens peeped in a coop — Harper's
2. : to speak with a small weak voice : utter the slightest sound
every time he peeps, she jumps to see what's the matter — Benjamin Spock
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pepe, from pepen to peep, chirp
1. : a feeble shrill sound (as by a young chicken or mouse) : cheep , chirp , squeak
2. : a slight utterance especially of complaint or protest
don't let me hear another peep out of you
3.
a. : any of several small sandpipers: as
(1) : least sandpiper
(2) : semipalmated sandpiper
b. Britain : meadow pipit
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English pepen, perhaps alteration of piken to peek
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to peer through or as if through a crevice
peeping … out from chinks and knotholes — George Orwell
b. : to look cautiously or slyly : peek , spy
peep behind the scenes
would never … peep under her bed — Oliver Goldsmith
2. : to begin to emerge from or as if from concealment : become partly evident : show slightly — usually used with through, out, or from
crocuses peeping through the grass
the ancient belief … keeps peeping out in unexpected quarters — C.W.Cunnington
his brown curls peeped from the edges of his cap — Marcia Davenport
transitive verb
: to put forth or cause to protrude slightly (as the head of one peeping) — usually used with out
not a dangerous action can peep out his head — Shakespeare
IV. noun
( -s )
1. : the first glimpse or faint appearance
at the peep of dawn
2.
a. : a slight or brief look : glance
take a quick peep at the past — London Calling
b. : a furtive look through or as if through a crevice or from or into a hiding place : peek
a peep at the neighbors through the blinds
3. : peep sight
4. : peekaboo
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: obsolete English peep one of the dots used on dice and dominoes to indicate numerical value, of unknown origin
obsolete : step , degree
VI. ˈpēp noun
( -s )
Etymology: by alteration
: jeep
VII. transitive verb
slang : to have a look at : see : watch