Peep vs Leer - What's the difference?
peep | leer | Related terms |
A quiet sound, particularly one from a baby bird.
A feeble utterance or complaint.
The sound of a steam engine's whistle; typically shrill.
A kind of bird; a sandpiper.
To look, especially while trying not to be seen or noticed.
:
*
*: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.
*{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
, passage=But Richmond
To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.
*(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
*:When flowers first peeped , and trees did blossoms bear.
A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.
* {{quote-book
, year=1907
, title=(The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses)
, author=Robert W. Service
, chapter=(The Cremation of Sam McGee)
, passage=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.}}
To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.
To entice with a leer or leers.
* (Dryden)
A significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.
An arch or affected glance or cast of countenance.
(obsolete) The cheek.
(obsolete) The face.
(obsolete) One's appearance; countenance.
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) Complexion; hue; blee; colour.
(obsolete) Flesh; skin.
The flank or loin.
Empty; unoccupied; clear.
Destitute; lacking; wanting.
Faint from lack of food; hungry.
Thin; faint.
Having no load or burden; free; without a rider.
Lacking sense or seriousness; trifling; frivolous.
In obsolete terms the difference between peep and leer
is that peep is a spot on a die or domino while leer is flesh; skin.As nouns the difference between peep and leer
is that peep is a quiet sound, particularly one from a baby bird while leer is a significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.As verbs the difference between peep and leer
is that peep is to make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird while leer is to look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.As an acronym PEEP
is a World War II jeep attached to an armored regiment.As an adjective leer is
empty; unoccupied; clear.peep
English
Etymology 1
Onomatopoeic, from (etyl) pepenNoun
(en noun)- I don't want to hear a peep out of you !
- 2001 , , Thomas the tank engine collection : a unique collection of stories from the railway series - p. 177 - Egmont Books, Limited, Aug 15, 2001
- "Peep', ' peep ," said Edward, "I'm ready."
- "Peep', '''peep''', ' peep ," said Henry, "so am I."
Etymology 2
From (etyl)Verb
(en verb)Hypernyms
* glanceNoun
(en noun)Derived terms
* bo-peep * by-peep * peeper, peepers * peep pixels * peep show * peeping tom * pixel peeperEtymology 3
Of uncertain originSynonyms
* (spot on die or domino) pipEtymology 4
, a shortened form of people.leer
English
Etymology 1
Exact development uncertain, but apparently from *. See below.Verb
(en verb)- To gild a face with smiles; and leer a man to ruin.
Noun
(en noun)Etymology 2
From (etyl) ler, . More at (l), (l).Alternative forms
* (l), (l), (l)Noun
(en noun)- (Holinshed)
- a Rosalind of a better leer than you
Anagrams
* *Etymology 3
From (etyl) lere, from (etyl) . More at (l).Alternative forms
* (l)Adjective
(en adjective)- a leer stomach
- (Gifford)
- a leer horse
- (Ben Jonson)
- leer words
