WIMP

¹

[wimp]

noun

1. any of a group of weakly interacting elementary particles predicted by various unified field theories, as the W particle and Z-zero particle, that are characterized by relatively large masses.

wimp

²

[wimp]

noun

Informal.

1. a weak, ineffectual, timid person.

verb phrase

1. wimp out

   1. to be or act like a wimp.

   2. to show timidity or cowardice; chicken out.

WIMP

¹

/ wɪmp /

acronym

1. windows, icons, menus ( or mice), pointers: denoting a type of user-friendly screen display used on small computers

   a WIMP system

2. physics weakly interacting massive particle

wimp

²

/ wɪmp /

noun

1. informal,  a feeble ineffective person See also wimp out

WIMP

1. Short for weakly interacting massive particle. Any of various hypothetical particles, some predicted by certain theories such as supersymmetry, which interact with other particles by the force of gravity alone. WIMPs are considered by some scientists to be candidates for the dark matter that makes up much of the mass of the universe.

Other Word Forms

• wimpish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of WIMP¹

1985–90; W(eakly) I(nteracting) M(assive) P(article)

Origin of WIMP²

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; origin uncertain; whimper

Word History and Origins

Origin of WIMP¹

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The kind of ace who harks back to a time when “bullpen days” didn’t exist, relieving was for wimps and starters were expected to serve as their own closers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He reacted and Scarlett "jokingly" called him a wimp, Ms Hall says.

Read more on BBC

“I am a wimp,” Martindale confessed as she pushed some eggs around her plate.

Read more on New York Times

"So, either she's going to be a wimp, and do nothing, or she's going to be driven and ambitious. Character is what drives everything forward."

Read more on BBC

Instead, the Democrats were losing half the time to a party that should never even have had a shot because voters saw liberals as wimps and weak patriots.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• coward 
• crybaby 
• pushover