beep

American  

[beep] / bip /

noun

1. a short, relatively high-pitched tone produced by a horn, electronic device, or the like as a signal, summons, or warning.

2. one of the periodic signals sounded by a beeper.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make or emit such a sound.

   When the timer beeps, take the cake out of the oven.

verb (used with object)

1. to sound (a horn, warning signal, etc.).

   impatient drivers beeping their horns.

2. to announce, warn, summon, etc., by beeping.

   The doctor was beeped to call the hospital.

beep British  

/ biːp /

noun

1. a short high-pitched sound, esp one made by the horn of a car, bicycle, etc, or by electronic apparatus

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verb

1. to make or cause to make such a noise

Other Word Forms

• beeper noun

Etymology

Origin of beep

First recorded in 1925–30; imitative

Example Sentences

I love the alert beeps that sound when I’m getting too close to anything.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It’s not straightforward,” says David Clarke, a fisheries expert at Swansea University who was funded by EDF to monitor high-frequency beeps fired at tagged shad to see if they swam away.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Intelligent Speed Assistance", as it's known, may feel like a nuisance, beeping away when you are at the wheel.

From BBC

"I sit in my lane and I'm frozen, totally petrified. I can't overtake and because you don't overtake, people start to beep at you and that drives me into more of a frenzy," she says.

From BBC

Potter pointed out that several months ago the Waymo vehicles reduced the volume of its beeping, when the vehicles drive in reverse, when in the lots.

From Los Angeles Times