Peep definitions

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PEEP, v.i. [L. pipio; Heb. to cry out.]
1. To begin to appear; to make the first appearance; to issue or come forth from concealment, as through a narrow avenue.
I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him.
When flowers first peeped--
2. To look through a crevice; to look narrowly, closely or slyly.
A fool will peep in at the door.
Thou are a maid and must not peep.
3. To cry, as chickens; to utter a fine shrill sound, as through a crevice; usually written pip, but without reason, as it is the same word as is here defined, and in America is usually pronounced peep.
PEEP, n. First appearance; as the peep of day.
1. A sly look, or a look through a crevice.
2. The cry of a chicken.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the short weak cry of a young bird [syn: cheep, peep]
2: a secret look [syn: peek, peep] v
1: look furtively; "He peeped at the woman through the window"
2: cause to appear; "he peeped his head through the window"
3: make high-pitched sounds; "the birds were chirping in the bushes" [syn: peep, cheep, chirp, chirrup]
4: speak in a hesitant and high-pitched tone of voice
5: appear as though from hiding; "the new moon peeped through the tree tops"

Merriam Webster's

I. intransitive verb Etymology: Middle English pepen, of imitative origin Date: 15th century 1. to utter a feeble shrill sound as of a bird newly hatched ; cheep 2. to utter the slightest sound II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a feeble shrill sound ; cheep 2. a slight utterance especially of complaint or protest <don't let me hear another peep out of you> 3. any of several small sandpipers III. verb Etymology: Middle English pepen, perhaps alteration of piken to peek Date: 15th century intransitive verb 1. a. to peer through or as if through a crevice b. to look cautiously or slyly 2. to begin to emerge from or as if from concealment ; show slightly transitive verb 1. to put forth or cause to protrude slightly 2. slang to have a look at ; see, watch IV. noun Date: 1530 1. a first glimpse or faint appearance <at the peep of dawn> 2. a. a brief look ; glance b. a furtive look

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. v. & n. --v.intr. 1 (usu. foll. by at, in, out, into) look through a narrow opening; look furtively. 2 (usu. foll. by out) a (of daylight, a flower beginning to bloom, etc.) come slowly into view; emerge. b (of a quality etc.) show itself unconsciously. --n. 1 a furtive or peering glance. 2 the first appearance (at peep of day). Phrases and idioms: peep-bo = BO-PEEP. peep-hole a small hole that may be looked through. peeping Tom a furtive voyeur. peep-show a small exhibition of pictures etc. viewed through a lens or hole set into a box etc. peep-sight the aperture backsight of some rifles. peep-toe (or -toed) (of a shoe) leaving the toes partly bare. Etymology: ME: cf. PEEK, PEER(1) 2. v. & n. --v.intr. make a shrill feeble sound as of young birds, mice, etc.; squeak; chirp. --n. such a sound. Etymology: imit.: cf. CHEEP

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Peep Peep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peeped; p. pr. & vb. n. Peeping.] [Of imitative origin; cf. OE. pipen, F. piper, p['e]pier, L. pipire, pipare, pipiare, D. & G. piepen. Senses 2 and 3 perhaps come from a transfer of sense from the sound which chickens make upon the first breaking of the shell to the act accompanying it; or perhaps from the influence of peek, or peak. Cf. Pipe.] 1. To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to chirp; to cheep. There was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. --Is. x. 14. 2. To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance. When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear. --Dryden.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Peep Peep, n. 1. The cry of a young chicken; a chirp. 2. First outlook or appearance. Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn. --Gray. 3. A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment. To take t' other peep at the stars. --Swift. 4. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (Trigna minutilla). (b) The European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis). Peep show, a small show, or object exhibited, which is viewed through an orifice or a magnifying glass. Peep-o'-day boys, the Irish insurgents of 1784; -- so called from their visiting the house of the loyal Irish at day break in search of arms. [Cant]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(peeps, peeping, peeped) 1. If you peep, or peep at something, you have a quick look at it, often secretly and quietly. Children came to peep at him round the doorway... Now and then she peeped to see if he was noticing her. = peek VERB: V at n, V • Peep is also a noun. 'Fourteen minutes,' Chris said, taking a peep at his watch. = peek N-SING: a N 2. If something peeps out from behind or under something, a small part of it is visible or becomes visible. Purple and yellow flowers peeped up between rocks... VERB: V prep/adv

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pep (tsphaph; the King James Version Isa 8:19; 10:14 (the Revised Version (British and American) "chirp")): In 10:14, the word describes the sound made by a nestling bird; in 8:19, the changed (ventriloquistic?) voice of necromancers uttering sounds that purported to come from the feeble dead. The modern use of "peep" equals "look" is found in Sirach 21:23, as the translation of parakupto: "A foolish man peepeth in from the door of another man's house."

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. n. 1. Chirp (as a chicken), pule, cheep, cry, pip. 2. Begin to appear, issue, come forth. 3. Peer, look slyly.

Moby Thesaurus

bend the eyes, blink, bug, cackle, call, carol, case, cast, caw, chatter, cheep, chip, chipper, chirk, chirm, chirp, chirr, chirrup, chitter, chuck, clack, cluck, cock-a-doodle-doo, complaint, coo, croak, cronk, crow, cuckoo, direct the eyes, drum, flash, gabble, gaggle, gander, glance, glimpse, gobble, grumble, guggle, half an eye, honk, hoo, hoot, look, look over, make a reconnaissance, meddle, murmur, nose, ogle, outcry, peek, peer, pip, pipe, play peekaboo, play the spy, protest, protestation, pry, put under surveillance, quack, quick sight, rapid glance, reconnoiter, roll, scold, scout, scout out, sing, slant, snoop, sound, spy, spy out, squawk, squeak, squiz, stake out, stare, take a peep, trill, tweedle, tweet, twit, twitter, warble, watch, whistle, wink