peer

UK: /ˈpɪə^r/ US: /pɪr/ ,(pēr)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

peer¹ /pɪr/   n. [countable]

1. Sociology one who is the equal of another in abilities or social status:
   a jury of his peers.
2. a member of any of the five degrees of the nobility in Great Britain and Ireland.

peer² /pɪr/   v. [no object]

1. to look searchingly, as in making an effort to see clearly:
   He peered at the computer screen, wondering what his programming mistake was.
2. to appear slightly;
   come into view:
   The sun peered briefly out of the leaden skies.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

peer¹  (pēr), n. 

1. a person of the same legal status:
   a jury of one's peers.
2. Sociology a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status.
3. something of equal worth or quality:
   a sky-scraper without peer.
4. a nobleman.
5. 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.

• Latin pār equal
• Old French per
• Middle English per 1175–1225

peer²  (pēr), v.i. 

1. to look narrowly or searchingly, as in the effort to discern clearly.
2. to peep out or appear slightly.
3. to come into view.

• perh. aphetic variant of appear 1585–95

peer′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See peep ¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

peer / pɪə/ noun

1. a member of a nobility; nobleman
2. a person who holds any of the five grades of the British nobility: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron
   See also life peer
3. a person who is an equal in social standing, rank, age, etc

Etymology: 14th Century (in sense 3): from Old French per, from Latin pār equal

peer / pɪə/ verb (intransitive)

1. to look intently with or as if with difficulty: to peer into the distance
2. to appear partially or dimly: the sun peered through the fog

Etymology: 16th Century: from Flemish pieren to look with narrowed eyes