PIPING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does piping mean? 

• PIPING (noun)
  The noun PIPING has 3 senses:

1. a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems

2. a long tube made of metal or plastic that is used to carry water or oil or gas etc.

3. playing a pipe or the bagpipes

  Familiarity information: PIPING used as a noun is uncommon.

• PIPING (adverb)
  The adverb PIPING has 1 sense:

1. (used of heat) extremely

  Familiarity information: PIPING used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PIPING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("piping" is a kind of...):

cord (a line made of twisted fibers or threads)

Derivation:

pipe (trim with piping)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A long tube made of metal or plastic that is used to carry water or oil or gas etc.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

pipage; pipe; piping

Hypernyms ("piping" is a kind of...):

tube; tubing (conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases)

Meronyms (parts of "piping"):

spout (an opening that allows the passage of liquids or grain)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "piping"):

chimneypot (a short earthenware pipe on the top of a chimney to increase the draft)

discharge pipe (a pipe through which fluids can be discharged)

drain; drainpipe; waste pipe (a pipe through which liquid is carried away)

drilling pipe (a series of tubes (joined by screwed collars) that connect a drilling platform to the drilling bit; rotates the bit and supplies drilling mud)

elbow (a length of pipe with a sharp bend in it)

exhaust pipe (a pipe through which burned gases travel from the exhaust manifold to the muffler)

fuel line; gas line; petrol line (a pipe that carries gasoline from a tank to a gasoline engine)

main (a principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage)

manifold (a pipe that has several lateral outlets to or from other pipes)

line; pipeline (a pipe used to transport liquids or gases)

riser; riser main; riser pipe; riser pipeline (a vertical pipe in a building)

sparge pipe (a horizontal pipe having fine holes drilled throughout its length so as to deliver a spray of water)

standpipe (a vertical pipe)

steam line; steam pipe (a pipe conducting steam)

tailpipe (a pipe carrying fumes from the muffler to the rear of a car)

Derivation:

pipe (transport by pipeline)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Playing a pipe or the bagpipes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("piping" is a kind of...):

playing (the act of playing a musical instrument)

Derivation:

pipe (play on a pipe)

• PIPING (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(used of heat) extremely

Synonyms:

piping; steaming

Context example:

the casserole was piping hot

 Context examples 

“I have sought you everywhere, dear Lady Maude,” said he in a piping voice, springing down from his horse and holding the stirrup.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Even at that exciting moment it carried me back to the old Admiral Benbow in a second, and I seemed to hear the voice of the captain piping in the chorus.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

There a bare-legged shepherd, in wooden shoes, pointed hat, and rough jacket over one shoulder, sat piping on a stone while his goats skipped among the rocks or lay at his feet.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A shrill little whistle, piping as if gone mad, came from directly ahead and from very near at hand.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"I'll lick you to-morrow," he heard Cheese-Face promise; and he heard his own voice, piping and trembling with unshed tears, agreeing to be there on the morrow.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A piping hot planet discovered by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has pointed the way to additional worlds orbiting the same star, one of which is located in the star’s habitable zone.

(Confirmation of Toasty TESS Planet Leads to Surprising Find of Promising World, NASA)

About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so dearly.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There is one thing, fair sir, said the Cambridge student in his piping voice, which I would fain that you would make more clear.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And I was going to sea myself, to sea in a schooner, with a piping boatswain and pig-tailed singing seamen, to sea, bound for an unknown island, and to seek for buried treasure!

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“What do you say to a cup of coffee? hot coffee? piping hot?”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)