peter

1 of 3

verb

pe·​ter ˈpē-tər 

petered; petering; peters

intransitive verb

1

: to diminish gradually and come to an end : give out

—usually used with out

novelists whose creative impetus seems largely to have petered out

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

: to become exhausted

—usually used with out

peter

2 of 3

noun (1)

often vulgar

: penis

Peter

3 of 3

noun (2)

Pe·​ter ˈpē-tər 

1

: a fisherman of Galilee and one of the twelve apostles

2

: either of two hortatory letters written to early Christians and included as books of the New Testament see Bible Table

Examples of peter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This river typically peters out as its water is diverted for irrigation. —Jack Lee, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2023

Crazy theories often peter out. —Jeffrey M. O'Brien, Fortune, 2 June 2022

But those efforts often peter out over time. —Ellevate, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2021

Wintry deluges could peter out, giving way to stuborrnly persistent warmth and dryness that would partially or even totally erase the precipitation gains made so far this winter, at least for some parts of the West. —Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (1)

from the name Peter

Noun (2)

Late Latin Petrus, from Greek Petros, from petra rock

First Known Use

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1902, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing peter

• Peter Pan
• Peter Pan collar
• Peter Principle
• Peter's pence
• rob Peter to pay Paul

Kids Definition

peter

1 of 2 verb

pe·​ter

ˈpēt-ər

1

: to slowly come to an end

—usually used with out

her popularity petered out

2

: to become exhausted

—usually used with out

raked half the lawn before he petered out

Peter

2 of 2 noun

Pe·​ter ˈpēt-ər 

: either of two letters written to early Christians and included as books of the New Testament see bible table

Biographical Definition

Peter

biographical name

Pe·​ter ˈpē-tər 

circa 1050–1115 the Hermit French preacher of the 1st Crusade