peter

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈpiː.tɚ/ UK /ˈpiː.tə/ See IPA manual

Freq #924

Meanings

1

verb
usually peter out: to diminish gradually in strength, quantity, or activity and finally stop

The path petered out near the edge of the marsh.
2

verb
historical mining, usually peter out: to become exhausted or yield no more ore

The promising vein petered out only a few metres below the surface.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · usually peter out: to... dwindle fadetrail offdie out

2 verb · historical mining, usually... run outbe exhausted

Opposites

intensify continue increase

Word family

Forms petered

Related forms peter outdwindle wane

Etymology

The verb appeared in nineteenth-century American mining language for a vein of ore becoming exhausted and soon broadened to anything that gradually dwindles and stops. Its origin is uncertain; proposals connect it with saltpeter or with French peter, 'to explode,' but neither explanation is established.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# peter

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈpiː.tɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpiː.tə/
**Frequency rank:** 924

## Meanings
1. usually peter out: to diminish gradually in strength, quantity, or activity and finally stop
2. historical mining, usually peter out: to become exhausted or yield no more ore

## Examples
- The path petered out near the edge of the marsh.
- The promising vein petered out only a few metres below the surface.

## Synonyms
- dwindle
- fade
- trail off
- die out

## Antonyms
- intensify
- continue
- increase

## Related Forms
- peter out
- dwindle
- wane

## Etymology
The verb appeared in nineteenth-century American mining language for a vein of ore becoming exhausted and soon broadened to anything that gradually dwindles and stops. Its origin is uncertain; proposals connect it with saltpeter or with French peter, 'to explode,' but neither explanation is established.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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