bleep

[ bleep ]

noun

1. a brief, constant beeping sound, usually of a high pitch and generated by an electronic device.
2. such an electronic sound used to replace a censored word or phrase, as on a television broadcast.
3. Also (used as a euphemism to indicate the omission or deletion of an obscenity or other objectionable word.)

verb (used without object)

1. (of an electronic device) to emit a series of bleeps as an audible signal, summons, or warning.

verb (used with object)

1. Also to censor (an obscene, vulgar, or other objectionable word or phrase) from a radio or television broadcast by deleting from the audio signal, leaving a gap or an electronic tone:

   The word was bleeped out of the comedian's routine.

bleep

/ bliːp /

noun

1. a short high-pitched signal made by an electronic apparatus; beep
2. another word for bleeper

verb

1. intr to make such a noise
2. tr to call (someone) by triggering the bleeper he or she is wearing

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleep¹

First recorded in 1950–55; perhaps imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleep¹

C20: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

It wasn’t that we were super eager to curse, but it was funny to bleep things.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’ll be catching up with an old friend that I haven’t seen in a long time,” Cape said, “and all of a sudden my phone goes — bleep — 30 minutes until the Subhumans!”

From Los Angeles Times

The bleep machine has been called on shift for first practice as Max Verstappen details his frustrations at his Red Bull's performance at Turn 11, calling it a "disaster" and adding he has "no grip".

From BBC

“I can’t have the full wording on the shirts, but we’ll bleep out some letters.”

From Seattle Times

And as for the historians who have suggested his latest movie, Napoleon, is factually inaccurate: "You really want me to answer that?... it will have a bleep in it."

From BBC

Related Words

• annul
• black out
• cross out
• cut out
• destroy
• eliminate
• erase
• expunge
• omit
• remove
• wipe out