peep

views updated May 18 2018

peep1 / 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.

peep

views updated Jun 11 2018

peep2 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.

Peep

views updated May 21 2018

Peep

of chicken; a brood of chickenBk. of St. Albans, 1486.

PEEP

views updated May 17 2018

peep

views updated Jun 11 2018

peep1 utter a weak shrill sound. XV. of imit. orig.
Hence sb. XV.

PEEP

views updated Jun 27 2018

PEEP (piːp) pilot's electronic eye-level presentation

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