# piping

/ˈpaɪpɪŋ/ (US) · /pˈaɪpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/piping
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. system of pipes

noun · CEFR B2

a system of tubes or pipes that carry water, gas, or other liquids through a building.

For teachers: a system of pipes or tubes, collectively referred to as pipework, used for the conveyance of fluids or gases.

- The old house needs all new piping because the water pressure is very low.
- Engineers inspected the industrial piping for signs of corrosion before authorizing the high-pressure steam test.

### 2. clothing decoration

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a thin strip of folded fabric used to decorate the edges of clothes or furniture.

For teachers: a type of trim or embellishment consisting of a strip of folded fabric, often containing a cord, sewn into a seam to define the edges.

- The navy blue jacket looked very elegant with white piping along the collar.
- The upholsterer suggested a contrasting piping to accentuate the geometric lines of the Art Deco armchair.

### 3. cake decoration

noun · CEFR B2

the act of using a small bag to squeeze icing into decorative shapes on a cake.

For teachers: the technique of extruding icing, frosting, or dough through a nozzle to create decorative patterns.

- She finished the birthday cake with some delicate pink piping around the base.
- Mastering consistent pressure is essential for professional piping, especially when creating intricate floral patterns with royal icing.

### 4. sound of pipes

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

the high-pitched sound made by a musical pipe or a small bird.

For teachers: the act of playing on a pipe or the thin, high-pitched sound produced by such an instrument or a shrill voice.

- We could hear the distant piping of a flute coming from the woods.
- The thin piping of the shepherd's reed echoed through the valley, a lonely sound against the vast silence of the mountains.

### 5. high-pitched

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having a very high, thin sound.

For teachers: characterized by a high-pitched or shrill quality; often used to describe voices or bird calls.

- The child spoke in a piping voice that was easy to hear over the crowd.
- The dawn chorus was led by the piping calls of the oystercatchers along the shoreline.

## Examples

- The plumber is here to fix the old piping in the basement.
- The chef spent hours adding intricate chocolate piping to the wedding cake to match the floral theme.
- While the industrial facility required heavy-duty steel piping to transport chemicals, the interior designer chose delicate velvet piping to finish the edges of the custom-made sofas.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.