Skip to main content
to pipe

to pipe

47 7.0
To make a high thin sound like a small bird or child
  • verb
  • /paɪp/
translation icon : piar
  • When the song started, the children began to pipe their little voices along with the tune.
  • a student piped up

Got it OK, I'm that that was Devin yes I mean she can just pipe up if she wants She didn't have a mic.

Examples

  • Okay, everybody pipe down, please.

  • For God's sake, Danny, pipe down.

  • Miracle Boy's voice was soft and piping, and they stopped to listen.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • For once in your life, Brogan Kai, pipe down.

  • You kids pipe down!

  • Pipe down in there!

  • "And then we got in the boat and sailed over Philadelphia," piped up a little boy.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • But then Tony, one of the more excitable children, suddenly piped up, "Do you know what Dennis said?"

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Then my little brother piped up, giving true meaning to the phrase "spilling the beans."

    Fiction book (1997)
  • "I didn't really get a chance." "That's true, she didn't," piped up her father.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

to screech
vsto pipe
86 4.0

To make a loud, high, sharp sound that startles people

is similar in pitch but usually thinner and not as harsh
to squeak
vsto pipe
82 1.4

To make a short high sound when things move or rub together

is similar but often lighter and more like a small bird or child
to sing
vsto pipe
78 7.8

To make a high thin sound like a whistle

is similar in pitch but applies more to living small voices
to shriek
vsto pipe
72 2.9

To make a loud high sound often because of fear, pain or excitement

is similar in pitch but less tied to strong emotion and volume
to squeal
vsto pipe
61 3.0

To make a long, high sound like a pig or excited child

is more often short and birdlike rather than long and animalistic
to whine
vsto pipe
18 2.6

To make a long high, unpleasant sound like a machine

is similar in tone but shorter and produced by small living voices
to cackle
vsto pipe
18 6.0

To make a loud high sound like a hen or laugh in a loud harsh way

is like that sound but usually single and more delicate
to shrill
vsto pipe
3 4.8

To make a very high, sharp sound often as a cry

is the same high pitch but more birdlike or childlike and thinner
to peep
vsto pipe
2 1.5

To make a short high sound like a baby bird

is similar but used especially for very thin, clear birdlike tones
to squall
vsto pipe
2 7.2

To make a loud high sound like a baby or bird

is closer in pitch but usually softer and more childlike or birdlike
to cheep
vsto pipe
1 3.9

To make a short, high sound like a baby bird

is the same birdlike short sound but can also suit children
to screak
vsto pipe
  • UK
9.9

To make a short, high, harsh sound like an owl or old gate

is like that pitch but generally less harsh and more childlike
to skirl
vsto pipe
9.9

To make a high, loud, wailing sound like bagpipes

is similar in quality but refers more to small creature or child sounds

Idioms

Accept this fact even if you do not like it

Phrasal Verbs

to pipe down
  • Informal
35 7.1

To become quiet or tell someone to stop making noise

to pipe up
  • Informal
6 5.9

To start speaking suddenly, often loudly or in a high voice

3 3.9

Bring water, gas, or air into a place through pipes

to pipe in
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Send data into a program or service for processing

to pipe the eye
  • Specialized
9.9

To put icing on a cake in an eye shape

to pipe up
  • Informal
6.1

To start to play music or sing suddenly

Compounds

pipe bomb
  • Offensive
29 5.9

A thing made inside a metal pipe that explodes to hurt people or damage things

pipe dream
  • Informal
23 6.8

A hope or plan that is not likely to happen

water pipe
  • Specialized
6 1.0

A tube that carries water into a house or building

exhaust pipe
  • Specialized
4 3.2

A pipe that carries gas from the engine out the back of a car

4 5.3

A large musical instrument that makes sound through many pipes and you play with keyboards and pedals

4 3.0

A thin bendable wire with soft material for cleaning a tobacco pipe or making simple crafts

peace pipe
  • Literature
3 6.8

A decorated pipe smoked in a special ceremony by some Native American groups to show peace or agreement

steam pipe
  • Specialized
3 3.9

A tube that carries hot steam under pressure

pipe wrench
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A large adjustable tool with jaws that have teeth for gripping and turning pipes

pipe fitter
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A worker who installs and repairs pipes that carry water, gas, or steam

1 5.1

A smoking device where smoke passes through water before you breathe it in

1 4.4

A small pipe for smoking tobacco made from baked clay

riser pipe
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A vertical tube that carries water or gas up between floors in a building

1 4.1

A tube in an organ that makes musical notes when air moves through it

pitch pipe
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A small device that plays a musical note to help singers or musicians find the right starting note

pipe cutter
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A small hand tool that cuts metal or plastic pipes cleanly

1 3.4

A person who smokes tobacco from a pipe

pipe fitting
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A small part with threads that connects two pipes

discharge pipe
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A pipe that carries water or waste away from a building

drilling pipe
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A set of connected metal tubes that carry force and mud from the platform to the cutting part underground

1 3.2

A small tube with a bowl that you use to smoke tobacco

A pipe for smoking tobacco made from the hard root of a shrub

A smoking pipe with a curved stem and a large bowl made from a calabash gourd

A pipe on a bagpipe that makes a steady background low note

A climbing plant with large heart-shaped leaves and pipe-shaped flowers

fipple pipe
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wind instrument like a recorder with a mouthpiece you blow into

flue pipe
  • Specialized
8.1

A pipe in an organ that makes sound when air moves across a sharp edge

labial pipe
  • Specialized
9.9

An organ pipe that makes sound when air passes a sharp edge

melody pipe
  • Specialized
7.9

A pipe with finger holes that plays the tune in a bagpipe or organ

A small wind instrument like a simple oboe used in French folk and classical music

A small waxy white or pink plant in shady woods that does not use sunlight to make food

pudding pipe tree
  • Australian
9.9

A tropical tree with hanging yellow flowers and pods whose soft inside is used as medicine

A traditional pipe used in ceremonies for shared smoking

9.9

An old clay pipe with a long stem for smoking, often from 17th or 18th century England

reed pipe
  • Specialized
7.9

A pipe in an organ that makes sound when a thin metal strip vibrates, giving a bright tone

pandean pipe
  • Archaic
9.9

A set of pipes of different lengths tied together that you play by blowing across the tops

An action or remark that starts a conversation

6.5

The round open part of a smoking pipe that holds tobacco

pipe clamp
  • Specialized
5.1

A tool that holds a pipe firmly while you cut or thread it

pipe vine
  • Specialized
9.2

A tough climbing plant with large leaves and curved, pipe-like flowers

pipe vise
  • Specialized
8.2

A clamp that holds a pipe firmly while you cut or thread it

A person who leads a bagpipe band and arranges the music

9.0

A decorated smoking pipe used at special times to show peace or agreement

5.3

A stand that holds tobacco pipes to store and show them

A small flute played with one hand while the other hand plays a drum

A small simple flute or pipe played by people who care for sheep

soil pipe
  • Specialized
5.6

A pipe that carries waste water from toilets and sinks to the drain

sparge pipe
  • Specialized
9.9

A horizontal pipe with small holes that sprays water or other liquids evenly

3.0

A pipe that carries away dirty water from a sink or bath

How High-Pitched

to shriek
72 2.9
to squeak
82 1.4
to pipe
47 7.0
to chirp
34 1.0
peep
14 1.0

Surface Forms

pipe infinitive
piped past
piped past participle
piping present participle
pipes third person singular

Etymology

Pipe meaning to make a high, thin sound comes from the small musical pipe and from bird sounds that 'peep' the same way. So to pipe is to give a sharp, high-pitched sound like a bird or a child.