Definition

1. Noun:

   • A long, hollow cylinder for conveying fluids: A tube, typically made of metal or plastic, used to transport water, gas, oil, or other substances.
   • A wind instrument consisting of a tube: A simple tubular musical instrument, such as a flute or a recorder, or a component of a larger instrument like an organ.
   • A device for smoking tobacco: A tube with a small bowl at one end, used for smoking tobacco.
   • A tubular structure or shape: Any object or formation that is long, hollow, and cylindrical.

2. Verb:

   • To convey (a fluid) through a pipe: To transport a liquid or gas via a system of tubes.
   • To play a tune on a pipe or similar wind instrument: To produce musical sounds using a pipe.
   • To utter a high-pitched sound or cry: To speak or sing in a shrill voice.
   • To trim or decorate with a thin line or cord (piping): To finish an edge of fabric or food (like a cake) with a decorative strip.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The plumber fixed the leaking pipe under the sink.
  • He played a folk tune on a simple wooden pipe.
  • The old man sat quietly, smoking his pipe.

• Verb:

  • The new system will pipe fresh water directly to the village.
  • The shepherd piped a cheerful melody for his flock.
  • "Wait for me!" she piped from the other room.
  • She learned how to pipe icing onto cupcakes.

Advanced Usage

• "To pipe down" (phrasal verb): To become quiet; to stop talking or making noise.

  • The teacher told the noisy class to pipe down.

• "To pipe up" (phrasal verb): To begin to speak, especially suddenly or with a high-pitched voice.

  • A small voice piped up from the back of the room with the correct answer.

• "To pipe a tune": To play a melody, often implying a simple, cheerful, or pastoral quality.

  • The musician piped a tune that made everyone want to dance.

Variants and Related Words

• Piping (noun): 1. A system of pipes. 2. A thin decorative line of icing, cream, or fabric.

  • The piping in the building needed replacement.
  • She added red piping to the dress's seams.

• Pipeline (noun): A long pipe, typically underground, for transporting oil, gas, etc., over long distances.

  • The new pipeline will carry natural gas across the country.

• Pipeful (noun): The amount of tobacco that fills a pipe.

  • He smoked a pipeful of aromatic tobacco.

Synonyms

• Noun (for tube): Tube, conduit, duct, hose.
• Noun (for instrument): Flute, fife, recorder.
• Verb (for convey): Channel, funnel, conduct.
• Verb (for play music): Toot, whistle, play.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Pipe away: To signal a ship's departure with a whistle or to continue playing a pipe.

  • The boatswain piped away as the ship left the dock.

• Pipe aboard/ashore: To welcome or honor a person on or off a ship with a whistle signal.

  • The captain was piped aboard with a ceremonial whistle.

Related Idioms

• Put that in your pipe and smoke it: A phrase used to tell someone to accept a fact, especially an unpleasant one, that they can do nothing about.

  • I'm not changing my mind, so you can put that in your pipe and smoke it.

• Pipe dream: An unrealistic hope or fantasy.

  • Becoming a famous actor was just a pipe dream for him.

Noun

1. the flues and stops on a pipe organ
2. a tubular wind instrument
3. a hollow cylindrical shape
4. a long tube made of metal or plastic that is used to carry water or oil or gas etc.
5. a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

Verb

1. trim with piping
   • pipe the skirt
2. play on a pipe
   • pipe a tune
3. transport by pipeline
   • pipe oil, water, and gas into the desert
4. utter a shrill cry