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
With black piping on the adult pajamas and red trim on the kids' pajamas, these have a chic look to them. Jessica Booth, Parents, 14 Nov. 2023 Her rococo cakes meld orderly, ornate piping with ebulliently messy bunches of exotic fruits and colorful foliage. Martha Cheng Sharon Radisch, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2023 Use a piping bag for easy filling: A piping bag or a ziplock bag with one corner snipped off can make the filling process easier. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2023 The lightweight pajamas are made with cushiony soft, fine cotton fabric and are adorned with thin piping and two side pockets on the bottoms. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023 In Jefferson Parish, next to New Orleans, officials began laying out flexible piping resembling giant fire hoses in a plan to pipe water from farther up the Mississippi to dilute the salt water. Kevin McGill and Stephen Smith The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2023 The classic style comes in an array of pretty colors and features contrasting piping that pops. Julie Evans, Parents, 23 Oct. 2023 Some 40 geothermal power plants, such as the massive Geysers geothermal field some 70 miles north of San Francisco, produce electricity by drilling wells and piping steam or hot water to the surface. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023 Chartreuse stitching and piping on the front seats help a bit, and RGB customizable accent lighting zhuzh things up at night, but much of the details inside this car just sort of fade into a monotone background. Daniel Golson, The Verge, 27 Oct. 2023
Adjective
Churchill helps install water heaters, re-piping houses, etc., for Gregory J. Ostroski Heating and Plumbing in Billerica. BostonGlobe.com, 17 Oct. 2021 See More

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 2 Dec. 2023.

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
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