Definition of 'peer'

Word Frequency

peer

(pɪəʳ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense peers , present participle peering , past tense, past participle peered

1. verb

If you peer at something, you look at it very hard, usually because it is difficult to see clearly.

I had been peering at a computer print-out that made no sense at all. [VERB preposition]

He watched the Customs official peer into the driver's window. [VERB preposition]

2. countable noun

In Britain, a peer is a member of the nobility who has or had the right to vote in the House of Lords.

Lord Swan was made a life peer in 1981.

Synonyms: noble, lord, count, duke More Synonyms of peer

3. countable noun [usually plural]

Your peers are the people who are the same age as you or who have the same status as you.

...children who are much cleverer than their peers.

His engaging personality made him popular with his peers.

Synonyms: equal, like, match, fellow [old-fashioned] More Synonyms of peer

More Synonyms of peer

Video: pronunciation of
peer

peer in British English 1

(pɪə )

noun

a member of a nobility; nobleman

a person who holds any of the five grades of the British nobility: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron

peer in British English 2

(pɪə )

verb (intransitive)

to look intently with or as if with difficulty

to peer into the distance

to appear partially or dimly

the sun peered through the fog

Word origin

C16: from Flemish pieren to look with narrowed eyes

Word Frequency

peer in American English 1

(pɪr )

noun

a person or thing of the same rank, value, quality, ability, etc.; equal; specif., an equal before the law

a noble; esp., a British duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron

verb transitive

3. Archaic

to match or equal

Idioms:

peer of the realm

Word origin

ME peir < OFr per < L par, an equal: see par1

Word Frequency

peer in American English 2

(pɪr )

verb intransitive

to look closely and searchingly, or squint, as in trying to see more clearly

to come out or show slightly; come partly into sight

3. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic

to appear

Word origin

? aphetic < appear

Word Frequency

peer in American English 1

(pɪər)

noun

a person of the same legal status

a jury of one's peers

a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status

something of equal worth or quality

a sky-scraper without peer

a nobleman

a member of any of the five degrees of the nobility in Great Britain and Ireland (duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron)

6. archaic

a companion

Word origin

[1175–1225; ME per ‹ OF per ‹ L pār equal]

Word Frequency

peer in American English 2

(pɪər)

intransitive verb

to look narrowly or searchingly, as in the effort to discern clearly

to peep out or appear slightly

to come into view

Derived forms

peeringly

adverb

Word origin

[1585–95; perh. aph. var. of appear]

Examples of 'peer' in a sentence
peer

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The only pressure here is peer pressure, which works as a positive force.One of the Conservative hereditary peers seems to think so.She now sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords.It came during the bill's committee stage, an unusual time for peers to force votes. Steel shaded his eyes against the sunlight and peered into the distance.He is a life peer and should be in it till death.The crossbench peer said he hoped the courses would help to restore public trust in public life.You could see him peering back from first class.This is where peer pressure is so important.He had peered through the window and come into the bank.