blip

[ blip ]
See synonyms for: blipblippedblipping on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. Also called pip. Electronics.

    • a spot of light on a radar screen indicating the position of a plane, submarine, or other object.

    • (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.

  1. anything small, as in amount or number: a blip of light; Those opposed were merely a blip in the opinion polls.

  2. Slang. a nickel; five cents.

  3. Movies. a mark of synchronization on a sound track.

  4. 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.

Origin of blip

1
1890–95, for an earlier sense; sound symbolism, with p for brevity and abrupt end of the impulse; bl- perhaps from blink

Words Nearby blip

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use blip in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for blip

blip

/ (blɪp) /


noun
  1. a repetitive sound, such as that produced by an electronic device, by dripping water, etc

  2. Also called: pip the spot of light or a sharply peaked pulse on a radar screen indicating the position of an object

  1. a temporary irregularity recorded in performance of something

verbblips, blipping or blipped
  1. (intr) to produce such a noise

Origin of blip

1
C20: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012