blip

[ blip ]

noun

1. Also called pip. Electronics.
   1. a spot of light on a radar screen indicating the position of a plane, submarine, or other object.
   2. (loosely) any small spot of light on a display screen.
2. a brief upturn, as in revenue or income:

   The midwinter blip was no cause for optimism among store owners.

3. anything small, as in amount or number:

   a blip of light; Those opposed were merely a blip in the opinion polls.

4. bleep ( def 3 ).
5. Slang. a nickel; five cents.
6. Movies. a mark of synchronization on a sound track.
7. a small or brief interruption, as in the continuity of a motion-picture film or the supply of light or electricity:

   There were blips in the TV film where the commercials had been edited out.

verb (used without object)

, blipped, blip·ping.

1. Informal. to move or proceed in short, irregular, jerking movements:

   The stock market has blipped one point higher this week.

verb (used with object)

, blipped, blip·ping.

1. bleep ( def 5 ).

blip

/ blɪp /

noun

1. a repetitive sound, such as that produced by an electronic device, by dripping water, etc
2. Also calledpip the spot of light or a sharply peaked pulse on a radar screen indicating the position of an object
3. a temporary irregularity recorded in performance of something

verb

1. intr to produce such a noise

Word History and Origins

Origin of blip¹

1890–95, for an earlier sense; sound symbolism, with p for brevity and abrupt end of the impulse; bl- perhaps from blink

Word History and Origins

Origin of blip¹

C20: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

A repeating tone - blip, blip, blip - is the audible reminder that we are in one of the most hazardous nuclear sites in the world: Sellafield.

From BBC

Joy spiked anew a day or two before the election when Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer saw a blip in the data placing Harris three points ahead in the Hawkeye state.

From Salon

But civil discourse has been ground down to a useless nub at this point, and a presidential candidate can share crude jokes about his opponent with barely a blip in the news cycle.

From Salon

And, before Real's Champions League match with AC Milan on Tuesday, Vinicius is ready to show this was merely a blip on his rise to the top of the world.

From BBC

At just 40 years old, anything he said about Trump will soon become just a blip on his radar.

From Salon

Related Words

• glitch