peekaboo

• peek-a-boo

From peek + -a- + boo.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpikəbu/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

peekaboo (uncountable)

1. (games) A game for a small child in which one covers one's face, then suddenly reveals it, saying "Boo!" or "Peekaboo!".

   Synonym: peepbo

peekaboo (not comparable)

1. (of clothing) With holes, slits or transparent fabric to reveal what is normally hidden.

   The model was wearing a peekaboo swimsuit.

2. (boxing) Being or using a style of boxing with the hands kept close to the face to defend it.

   peekaboo boxing

   a peekaboo guard

• 2011 January 13, Phil Vettel, “Chef of the Year: Anthomy Martin”, in Chicago Tribune, 164th year, number 13, section 5, page 4:

  Precise herbed-lamb packets amid art nouveau swirls of asparagus noodles, a lacy tuile that adds a peekaboo seductivity to potato gnocchi — [Anthony] Martin’s presentations are bold and beautiful, yet his flavor pairings are almost maddeningly subtle, driving overanalytical foodies to despair.

peekaboo (third-person singular simple present peekaboos, present participle peekabooing, simple past and past participle peekabooed)

1. (intransitive) To peep out.
   • 2013, Stan Timmons, Ammon's Horn:

     A spike of white bone peekabooed through the flesh of his wrist and blood spurted.

   • 2013, Marianne Harden, Malicious Mischief:

     “Mount Rainier has escaped the clouds.” I turned to the volcano peekabooing through the trees in the distance.

peekaboo

1. Boo (when showing oneself unexpectedly).

   Synonyms: peep bo, peep-bo, peepbo, peepo

   • 2021 September 2, Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil, “The Cloak of Duplication” (3:29 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows‎^[1], season 3, episode 2, spoken by Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch):

     “The Sire is the oldest living vampire in the world.” “He's the vampire from which all other vampires have descended.” “All of them.” “Do not ever open this door.” “Peekaboo.” (growling)