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.

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, blipping 

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, blipping 

1. bleep.

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

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

But it compounds a sense that Arsenal are experiencing a "blip" and need to nip it in the bud before it becomes more than that.

Read more on BBC

It was not clear whether this was a blip for the 33-year-old or the kind of drop in quality many players begin to experience once they reach their 30s.

Read more on BBC

Was the Chargers’ loss to the previously winless New York Giants a mere blip or an omen of what life’s going to be like with a patchwork offensive line?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Now it is just a blip in the weekly news cycle.

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But there are blips in the season and we are going through that now.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• glitch