piping

Pluralpipings (some meanings)

1. 1
   noununcountable

   The set of pipes used to carry water, gas, or other fluids through a building.

   Like the veins in your body that carry blood, but for water or gas.

   The old piping in the basement had begun to leak.

   Plumbers replaced all the copper piping in the building.

   Similarpipework, plumbing

2. 2
   noununcountable

   Lines or shapes of icing squeezed onto a cake from a special bag.

   Like drawing with toothpaste from a tube, but using sweet icing.

   She added pink piping around the edge of the birthday cake.

   The piping on the cupcakes spelled out his name.

   Similaricing, frosting

   Note
3. 3
   noununcountable

   A thin cloth-covered cord sewn along the edge of clothing for decoration.

   Like a thin rope sewn along the edge to make it stand out.

   The navy jacket had white piping along the collar.

   She added red piping to the cushions to make them stand out.

   Similartrim, edging, braid, cording

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Having a high, thin sound, like a small whistle or bird.

   Like the high squeak of a young bird calling for food.

   The child answered in a piping voice.

   A piping whistle came from the boiling kettle.

   Similarshrill, reedy, squeaky, thin

   Oppositedeep, booming

   Note
5. 5
   noununcountable

   The sound made by musical pipes, such as a flute or bagpipes.

   Like the soft, breathy sound of someone blowing across a bottle top.

   The piping of the flute drifted across the meadow.

   We could hear the faint piping of bagpipes in the distance.

   Similarwhistling, trilling

   Note
6. 6
   noununcountable

   The act of playing music on pipes.

   Like singing, except the music comes from blowing into pipes.

   His piping on the bagpipes opened the ceremony.

   The festival featured an evening of traditional piping.

   Similarplaying

7. 7
   verb

   Present participle of pipe. Use this form for an action that is happening now.

   Workers are piping fresh water to the new houses.

   She is piping icing onto the cake.

   Note
8. 8
   noununcountable

   The stage when a baby animal first starts to break through its egg, just before hatching.

   Piping can take many hours, so try not to help the chick out of the shell.

   Breeders watch for piping as a sign that chicks will soon hatch.

9. 9
   nouncountable

   A small piece cut from a plant so it can grow into a new one.

   Like breaking off a small branch and growing a whole new plant from it.

   She took a piping from the carnation and planted it in damp soil.

   Each piping was set in its own small pot.

   Similarcutting, slip

   Note
10. 10
    noununcountable

    Growing new plants from small pieces cut off an older plant.

    Like making copies of a plant instead of starting fresh from seeds.

    The nursery relied on piping to multiply its best carnations.

    Piping is faster than growing the same flowers from seed.

    Similarpropagation

    Note

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