Peep vs Whisper - What's the difference?
peep | whisper | Synonyms |
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.}}
The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially, without vibration of the vocal cords.
* 1883 , :
(usually in plural) A rumor.
(figurative) A faint trace or hint (of something).
(internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room.
* 2002 , Ralph Schroeder, The Social Life of Avatars (page 218)
* 2004 , Caroline A. Haythornthwaite, Michelle M. Kazmer, Learning, Culture and Community in Online Education (page 179)
To speak softly, or under the breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration in the larynx which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.
To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
* Bentley
To make a low, sibilant sound.
* Thomson
To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
* Bible, Psalms xli. 7
(obsolete) To address in a whisper, or low voice.
* Shakespeare
* Keble
(obsolete) To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.
* Shakespeare
Peep is a synonym of whisper.
As an acronym peep
is (slang) a world war ii jeep attached to an armored regiment.As a noun whisper is
the act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially, without vibration of the vocal cords.As a verb whisper is
to speak softly, or under the breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration in the larynx which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.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.whisper
English
Noun
(Whispering) (en noun)- "Now, look here, Jim Hawkins," he said, in a steady whisper , that was no more than audible.
- There are whispers of rebellion all around.
- The soup had just a whisper of basil.
- The invisibility of private interactions in the form of whispers resolved an ethical concern in the research but reduced our ability to gauge the volume of interaction
- Anyone logged in to the chat room can click on an individual name, highlighting it, and send a message — a whisper — that will be seen only by the selected person.
Derived terms
* stage whisper * whisper campaignVerb
(en verb)- They might buzz and whisper it one to another.
- the hollow, whispering breeze
- All that hate me whisper together against me.
- and whisper one another in the ear
- where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed
- He came to whisper Wolsey.