pipes
Pipes (noun) means informal term for a person's singing voice or vocal ability. Example: “That singer really has a great set of pipes.”
How to Use Pipes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plumbing in a building — or, informally, someone's singing voice.
The "singing voice" meaning is casual slang, common in music and sports commentary.
Word Forms
Pipeses plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
That singer really has a great set of _____.
Related Words
Rhymes for pipes
See all rhymes for pipes →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “pipes” mean?
The word “pipes” means informal term for a person's singing voice or vocal ability. In plain terms, the plumbing in a building — or, informally, someone's singing voice.
How do you pronounce “pipes”?
“Pipes” is pronounced pyps (/paɪps/ in IPA).
How do you use “pipes” in a sentence?
Here is “pipes” used in a sentence: “That singer really has a great set of pipes.”
What part of speech is “pipes”?
“Pipes” is a noun.
Is “pipes” a common word?
“Pipes” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pipes” have?
“Pipes” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal term for a person's singing voice or vocal ability.
Is using "pipes" for a singing voice formal or informal?
Using "pipes" to mean a singing voice is informal and conversational, common in music and entertainment. In formal writing you would refer instead to a person's "voice" or "vocal ability."
What is the difference between "pipes" and "piping"?
"Pipes" usually refers to the individual tubes that carry water, gas, or other fluid, while "piping" is the collective system of those pipes or the material they are made from. A plumber installs pipes; the whole network can be called the piping.
Does "pipes" always mean more than one pipe?
As a plural noun for tubes, "pipes" does refer to several. In the singing sense, however, "pipes" is a fixed informal expression — you would say a singer "has great pipes," not "a great pipe."