pipe

The word “pipe” means a rigid tube used to carry water, gas, or other fluids. In plain terms, a tube for carrying liquid or gas, a smoking implement, or (as a verb) to send something — water or data — through a channel.

“Pipe” is pronounced PYP (/ˈpaɪp/ in IPA).

Here is “pipe” used in a sentence: “A burst pipe flooded the basement.”

Depending on how it is used, “pipe” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “pipe” comes from Old English. From Old English pipe, "a tube or musical wind instrument," from Proto-West Germanic roots imitating a chirping or piping sound.

“Pipe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Pipe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a rigid tube used to carry water, gas, or other fluids.

A pipe is typically a rigid tube used to carry water, gas, or other fluids, often with thicker walls and a standard size. "Tube" is a broader word that can also cover flexible or thin-walled hollow cylinders, so in plumbing "pipe" usually implies rigidity.

A pipe is rigid and usually fixed in place, whereas a hose is flexible and can be moved and coiled. Both carry fluids, but pipes suit permanent installations while hoses suit temporary or portable connections.

For the fluid-carrying sense, common kinds include water pipe, gas pipe, drainpipe, and exhaust pipe. In the other sense, a tobacco pipe is a small bowl-and-stem device used for smoking, so context shows which meaning applies.