I. ˈpīpiŋ, -īpēŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English, from gerund of pipen to pipe; in other senses, partly from pipe (I) + -ing; partly from gerund of pipe (II) — more at pipe
1.
a. : the music of a pipe
b. : a sound like that of a pipe
the keen piping of a field lark — Sidney Lanier
2. : a quantity of pipe or system of pipes
3. : a cutting of a jointed-stemmed or hollow-stemmed plant (as a carnation)
4.
a.
(1) : a narrow fold (as of bias-cut cloth) with or without an inserted cord that is stitched in seams or along edges as a trimming for clothing, slipcovers, curtains
(2) : the trimming made in this fashion
b. : dough or decorative icing forced from a pastry tube
c. : a narrow piece of fabric or leather sewed in with the seam or edge of a shoe to give it finish
5. : a pipe formed in iron or steel ingots in cooling
6. : water erosion in a layer of subsoil or under or through a dam resulting in the formation of tunnels and caving
II. adjective
Etymology: from present participle of pipe (II)
: characterized by the music of the pipe rather than of the martial drum and fife : soft , tranquil
piping times of peace — Shakespeare
III. adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from piping (I)
: extremely , very — used in the phrase piping hot