piping

1 of 2

noun

pip·​ing ˈpī-piŋ How to pronounce piping (audio)
1
a
: a sound, note, or call like that of a pipe
b
: the music of a pipe
2
: a quantity or system of pipes
3
: trimming stitched in seams or along edges (as of clothing, slipcovers, or curtains)

piping

2 of 2

adjective

1
: shrill
a piping voice
2
: tranquil
piping times of peaceWilliam Shakespeare

Examples of piping in a Sentence

Noun There's a problem with the piping in the building. a sofa trimmed with blue piping a uniform with yellow piping down the pants Adjective the piping voices of small children the piping sound of the teakettle caught my attention
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Public Works oversaw the replacement of an additional 2,900 feet of old concrete water main with new piping. Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2024 The hot water will be sent into the underground piping, gradually warming some of the billions of pounds of surrounding subterranean rock from around 57 degrees to about 70 degrees. Cara Buckley, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024 Suddenly the effect seen at royal celebrations could be achieved on your dining room table with paper piping bags and reusable tips. Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 These pajamas come in a variety of different patterns and colors, from plain black with white piping to leopard print with black piping. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024 Leaks will be addressed, power cables installed, and train-control equipment and tunnel piping replaced, in addition to elevator and escalator maintenance. Michael Laris, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024 The Ducks nearly grabbed an early lead in the opening minute of the game when rookie defenseman Olen Zellweger banged a shot off the piping. Josh Gross, Orange County Register, 1 Feb. 2024 Solution that come to mind an addition lake or two, a few Desalination plants on the gulf coast or T Boone Pickens favorite piping water from the Ogallala Aquifer to a city in need. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 Transform a simple sheet cake into a bunny-ready basket with a simple piping technique. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Churchill helps install water heaters, re-piping houses, etc., for Gregory J. Ostroski Heating and Plumbing in Billerica. BostonGlobe.com, 17 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'piping.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of piping was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near piping

Cite this Entry

“Piping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piping. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

piping

noun
pip·​ing
ˈpī-piŋ
1
a
: the music of a pipe
b
: a shrill sound or call
the piping of frogs
2
: a quantity or system of pipes
3
: a narrow fold of fabric used to decorate seams or edges

More from Merriam-Webster on piping

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!