Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person of the same age, status, or ability as another: A peer is someone who is equal to another in a particular category, such as classmates, colleagues, or those in a similar social group.
   • A member of the British nobility: A peer is a person who holds a hereditary title (such as duke, marquis, earl, viscount, or baron) and may have the right to sit in the House of Lords.

2. Verb:

   • To look closely or with difficulty: To peer means to look intently, often by narrowing one's eyes, especially when trying to see something more clearly or when it is hard to see.

Examples

• Noun (Equal):
  • Children are often influenced by their peers.
  • She was respected by her professional peers for her innovative research.
• Noun (Nobility):
  • The Duke of Wellington was a famous peer.
  • The bill was debated by the peers in the House of Lords.
• Verb:
  • He had to peer through the fog to see the road signs.
  • She peered at the small print on the document.

Advanced Usage

• "Peer pressure": Social influence from members of one's peer group.
  • Teenagers often face strong peer pressure to conform.
• "Peer review": The evaluation of work by others in the same field to ensure quality.
  • The scientific journal uses a rigorous peer review process.

Variants and Related Words

• Peerage (n): The collective term for peers; the rank or title of a peer.
  • He was elevated to the peerage for his services to the nation.
• Peerless (adj): Having no equal; incomparable.
  • She gave a peerless performance on the violin.

Synonyms

• Noun (Equal): Equal, contemporary, counterpart, colleague.
• Noun (Nobility): Noble, aristocrat, lord.
• Verb: Gaze, squint, scrutinize, look closely.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Peer at: To look closely and intently at something.
  • The detective peered at the clue under a magnifying glass.
• Peer into: To look deeply or searchingly into something.
  • We peered into the dark cave, unsure of what was inside.

Related Idioms

• "To have no peer": To be unequaled; to be the best.
  • In the field of classical piano, he has no peer.
• "A jury of one's peers": A trial jury composed of people from the same community as the accused.
  • The right to a trial by a jury of one's peers is fundamental.

Noun

1. a nobleman (duke or marquis or earl or viscount or baron) who is a member of the British peerage
2. a person who is of equal standing with another in a group

Verb

1. look searchingly
   • We peered into the back of the shop to see whether a salesman was around