Word
peter
Phoneticspe·ter, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpitɝ/
UK/pˈiːtɐ/
Definitions
01to fade or dwindle
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to gradually become smaller, weaker, or stop completely.
v. to diminish gradually and then cease; almost exclusively used as the phrasal verb 'peter out'.
“The rain started to peter out just as we reached the house.”
“The protest began with great energy, but interest seemed to peter out as the afternoon heat became unbearable.”
Usage
Intransitive; almost always followed by the particle 'out'.
02a male name
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a common name for a man.
n. a male given name of Greek origin, meaning 'rock'.
“My friend Peter is coming over for dinner tonight.”
“The Gospel of Matthew records the moment when Simon was given the name Peter, symbolizing his role as a foundational figure.”
03a safe
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Slang
n. a strong metal box used for keeping money or jewelry safe.
n. a safe or strongbox used for the storage of valuables.
“The thieves spent hours trying to crack the peter in the back room.”
“Old underworld accounts often describe the specialized tools required to blow a peter without alerting the night watchman.”
Synonyms
04a prison cell
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Slang
n. a small room in a prison where a criminal is kept.
n. a prison cell or a place of confinement.
“He spent three nights in the peter before his lawyer arrived.”
“The inmate complained that the peter was damp and lacked sufficient ventilation during the winter months.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English Peter, from Old English Petrus, from Latin Petrus, from Ancient Greek Πέτρος (Pétros), from πέτρος (pétros, “stone, rock”). Doublet of Pedro, Piers, and Boutros.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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