pipes - Master This Word
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pipes Word Meanings
- a tube for conveying liquids or gases
- a musical instrument similar to a flute
- to convey or transport (a substance) through a pipe
pipes Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
pipes Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/paɪp/
US
/paɪp/
pipes Word Etymology
pipe = (Latin) 'pipa'= tube; (Old French) 'pipe'; The image to remember is a musician playing a wooden pipe, gathering a group around to hear the sweet melody.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I hold the cold pipe in my hand and take a steady breath. I turn it a little, adjust the angle, and push my thumb to the valve to see the flow begin. I move it along the bench, feeling the weight shift as something could travel through it. As the motion settles, the sense of conveying something through that hollow path feels real.
Real Context
Pipe is a simple word with several related senses. In everyday life, a pipe is a tube used to convey liquids or gases, from a copper water line to a plastic drain pipe. You might hear about sealing a leak, replacing a pipe, or laying a new pipe beneath a road. Pipe also names a musical instrument—often a slender wooden or metal tube that produces a flute-like sound when blown across an opening, commonly appearing in folk music. The verb to pipe means to convey or transport something through a pipe, as in piping hot water through a system. The etymology traces back to Latin pipa, via Old French pipe.
Usage Reminders
- Pipe is a tube for liquids or gases.
- It also names a musical instrument.
- As a verb, to pipe means to convey through a pipe.
- Related words: pipeline, piping.
- Pronounce it as /paɪp/.
Common Misconceptions
- Pipe only means a plumbing tube, ignoring the instrument and verb senses.
- Pipe and tube are always the same thing in everyday English.
- Confusing pipe with the Unix `pipe` concept or other tech terms.
- Assuming the musical sense only appears in folk music and never in formal contexts.
- Thinking pronunciation or spelling changes in related phrases like pipeline.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (keep concise): English groups meanings around a concrete object (tube) and an acoustic/functional sense (instrument). Learners often assume pipe always means plumbing and miss the verb and musical senses, or misapply 'pipeline' broadly.
Learning Tips
- Practice each sense in context: plumbing, instrument, and verb usage.
- Learn common collocations: pipe burst, pipe organ, pipe water.
- Listen for context clues like construction vs music.
- Record yourself pronouncing /paɪp/ and compare.
- Use related terms: pipeline, piping, pneumatic vs hydraulics.
- Play mini-translation games with 'pipe' in sentences.
Related Listening
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