Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pipe \Pipe\, n. [AS. p[=i]pe, probably fr. L. pipare, pipire, to chirp; of imitative origin. Cf. Peep, Pibroch, Fife.]
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A wind instrument of music, consisting of a tube or tubes of straw, reed, wood, or metal; any tube which produces musical sounds; as, a shepherd's pipe; the pipe of an organ. ``Tunable as sylvan pipe.''
--Milton.Now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe.
--Shak. Any long tube or hollow body of wood, metal, earthenware, or the like: especially, one used as a conductor of water, steam, gas, etc.
A small bowl with a hollow stem, -- used in smoking tobacco, and, sometimes, other substances.
A passageway for the air in speaking and breathing; the windpipe, or one of its divisions.
The key or sound of the voice. [R.]
--Shak.-
The peeping whistle, call, or note of a bird.
The earliest pipe of half-awakened birds.
--Tennyson. pl. The bagpipe; as, the pipes of Lucknow.
(Mining) An elongated body or vein of ore.
A roll formerly used in the English exchequer, otherwise called the Great Roll, on which were taken down the accounts of debts to the king; -- so called because put together like a pipe.
--Mozley & W.(Naut.) A boatswain's whistle, used to call the crew to their duties; also, the sound of it.
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[Cf. F. pipe, fr. pipe a wind instrument, a tube, fr. L. pipare to chirp. See Etymol. above.] A cask usually containing two hogsheads, or 126 wine gallons; also, the quantity which it contains.
Pipe fitter, one who fits pipes together, or applies pipes, as to an engine or a building.
Pipe fitting, a piece, as a coupling, an elbow, a valve, etc., used for connecting lengths of pipe or as accessory to a pipe.
Pipe office, an ancient office in the Court of Exchequer, in which the clerk of the pipe made out leases of crown lands, accounts of cheriffs, etc. [Eng.]
Pipe tree (Bot.), the lilac and the mock orange; -- so called because their were formerly used to make pipe stems; -- called also pipe privet.
Pipe wrench, or Pipe tongs, a jawed tool for gripping a pipe, in turning or holding it.
To smoke the pipe of peace, to smoke from the same pipe in token of amity or preparatory to making a treaty of peace, -- a custom of the American Indians.
WordNet
n. a craftsman who installs and repairs pipes and fixtures and appliances [syn: plumber]