peep

noun

1. A short, soft, high-pitched sound, as made by a baby bird.
2. A feeble utterance or complaint.

   “I don't want to hear a peep out of you!”

3. The sound of a steam engine's whistle; typically shrill.

   “With a "peep" from a high-pitched whistle, the train would leave by the crossover to the down line, […].”

   “"Peep, peep," said Edward, "I'm ready." "Peep, peep, peep," said Henry, "so am I."”

4. (colloquial)A sandpiper or other small wader.

   “When I spotted two small warm-brown scaley-plumaged ‘peeps’ with yellow legs, my commentary immediately identified them as Least Sandpipers.”

5. A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.

   “So saying she loosened some ivory screws of the guitar, so as to open a peep lengthwise through its interior.”

   “I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: "I'll just take a peep inside. / I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked"; […] then the door I opened wide.”

   “But at last Mr. Fox gave the order to stop. "I think," he said, "we had better take a peep upstairs now and see where we are. I know where I want to be, but I can't possibly be sure we're anywhere near it."”

   “Another wheel toy was a baker's barrow on wheels, 14 inches high; it was filled with buns, loaves, and crumpets and came from Hamley's. This toy in 1959 was a peep into the past, for wheeled barrows such as this one, had not been in use for a number of years.”

   “He did manage a brief peep at the building’s Rotunda as he called on members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in July.”

6. The first partial appearance of something; a beginning to appear.

   “the peep of day”

7. A peepshow.

   “A boring lusterless attempt at pornography, a niche above the racks of pulp pocketbooks sold in the front room of peeps.”

8. (obsolete)A spot on a die or domino.
9. (British, slang)A person.
10. (alt-of)Alternative letter-case form of Peep
11. (US)A soft marshmallow confection, shaped into a baby animal for Easter celebration.
12. (slang)A World War II jeep attached to an armored regiment.
13. (abbreviation, acronym, alt-of)Acronym of positive end-expiratory pressure.

verb

1. To make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird.
2. To speak briefly with a quiet voice.
3. (intransitive)To look, especially through a narrow opening, or while trying not to be seen or noticed.

   “The man peeped through the small hole.”

   “And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed.”

   “But Richmond[…]appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw, peeping around the massive silver epergne that almost obscured him from her view, that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either.”

4. (dated, intransitive)To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.

   “When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear.”

   “They first caught crabs and quohogs in the sand; grown bolder, they waded out with nets for mackerel; more experienced, they pushed off in boats and captured cod; and at last, launching a navy of great ships on the sea, explored this watery world; put an incessant belt of circumnavigations round it; peeped in at Behring’s Straits; and in all seasons and all oceans declared everlasting war with the mightiest animated mass that has survived the flood; most monstrous and most mountainous!”

5. (slang, transitive)To take a look at; check out.

   “Did you peep that video I sent you?”

   “Peep me, I'm fabulous, I work with the hardest working women at Kay Jeweler's, selling the finest jewels to the richest people.”

6. (slang, transitive)To see, uncover.

   “A lot of females were hesitant about getting with Pimp. He had a hard edge to him that made it impossible not to peep his cruel nature.”