peep
oxford
views updated May 18 2018peep1 / pēp/ •
v. [intr.] look quickly and furtively at something, esp. through a narrow opening: the door was ajar and she couldn't resist peeping in. ∎ (peep out) be just visible; appear slowly or partly or through a small opening: a wad of money that was peeping out of his pocket | the sun began to peep out.•
n. [usu. in sing.] a quick or furtive look: Jonathan took a peep at his watch. ∎ a momentary or partial view of something: black curls and a peep of gold earring.peep2 •
n. a high-pitched feeble sound made by a young bird or mammal. ∎ a slight sound, utterance, or complaint: not a peep out of them since shortly after eight. ∎ (usu. peeps) inf. a small sandpiper or similar wading bird.•
v. [intr.] make a cheeping or beeping sound.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
peep
oxford
views updated Jun 11 2018peep2 look through a narrow opening XV; emerge a little into view XVI. For the expressive combination of initial
p with
ee cf.
PEEK,
PEER2.
Hence sb. XVI.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
Peep
gale
views updated May 21 2018Peep
of chicken; a brood of chicken—Bk. of St. Albans, 1486.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms
peep
oxford
views updated Jun 11 2018peep1 utter a weak shrill sound. XV. of imit. orig.
Hence sb. XV.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
PEEP
oxford
views updated Jun 27 2018PEEP (piːp) pilot's electronic eye-level presentation
The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH