pipe

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pīpa (akin to Old High German pfīfa pipe), from Vulgar Latin *pipa pipe, from Latin pipare to peep, of imitative origin Date: before 12th century 1. a. a tubular wind instrument; specifically a small fipple flute held in and played by the left hand b. one of the tubes of a pipe organ: (1) flue pipe (2) reed pipe c. bagpipe — usually used in plural d. (1) voice, vocal cord — usually used in plural (2) piping 1 2. a. a long tube or hollow body for conducting a liquid, gas, or finely divided solid or for structural purposes b. a means of transmission (as of television signals or computer data) <

a broadband fiber-optic pipe

> 3. a. a tubular or cylindrical object, part, or passage b. a roughly cylindrical and vertical geological formation c. the eruptive channel opening into the crater of a volcano 4. a. a large cask of varying capacity used especially for wine and oil b. any of various units of liquid capacity based on the size of a pipe; especially a unit equal to two hogsheads 5. a device for smoking usually consisting of a tube having a bowl at one end and a mouthpiece at the other 6. snap 2c, cinch • pipeful noun • pipeless adjective • pipelike adjective II. verb (piped; piping) Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. a. to play on a pipe b. to convey orders by signals on a boatswain's pipe 2. a. to speak in a high or shrill voice b. to emit a shrill sound transitive verb 1. a. to play (a tune) on a pipe b. to utter in the shrill tone of a pipe 2. a. to lead or cause to go with pipe music b. (1) to call or direct by the boatswain's pipe (2) to receive aboard or attend the departure of by sounding a boatswain's pipe 3. to trim with piping 4. to furnish or equip with pipes 5. to convey by or as if by pipes; especially to transmit by wire or coaxial cable 6. notice