peter out

UK: /ˌpiːtə^rˈaʊt/

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

pe•ter¹ /ˈpitɚ/   v. [no object] Usually, peter out.

1. to tire;
   become exhausted:
   In the last lap of the race she just petered out.
2. to grow less or diminish gradually and stop:
   The hot water petered out.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pe•ter¹  (pē′tər), v.i. peter out, 

1. to diminish gradually and stop;
   dwindle to nothing:
   The hot water always peters out in the middle of my shower.
2. to tire;
   exhaust (usually used as a past participle):
   I'm petered out after that walk.

• 1805–15, in sense "put an end to''; 1860–65 for def. 1; origin, originally uncertain

pe•ter²  (pē′tər), n. Slang (vulgar).

1. Slang Terms penis.

• generic use of the proper name 1900–05

pe•ter³  (pē′tər), n. [Whist.]

1. Games a signal for an echo.

• from blue peter 1935–40

Pe•ter  (pē′tər), n. 

1. Bible, Biographical Also called Simon Peter. died a.d.67?, one of the 12 apostles and the reputed author of two of the Epistles.
2. Bible either of these two Epistles in the New Testament, I Peter or II Peter.
3. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter P.
4. a male given name.

• Greek Pétros stone, translation of Syriac kēfā
• Latin
• Old English Petrus Middle English