beep

[beep]

noun

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

one of the periodic signals sounded by a beeper.

verb (used without object)

to make or emit such a sound: When the timer beeps, take the cake out of the oven.

verb (used with object)

to sound (a horn, warning signal, etc.): impatient drivers beeping their horns.

to announce, warn, summon, etc., by beeping: The doctor was beeped to call the hospital.

Origin of beep

First recorded in 1925–30; imitative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for beeping

ding, signal, warning, tone, bleep, warn, call, page, summon

Examples from the Web for beeping

Contemporary Examples of beeping

With the batphone to his great pal Bibi beeping and blinking nonstop, would Romney in essence have backed Mubarak?
Arab Spring Comment Was a Romney Love Letter to the Israeli Right Wing
Michael Tomasky
July 28, 2012

British Dictionary definitions for beeping

beep

noun

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

verb

to make or cause to make such a noise

Derived Formsbeeper, noun

Word Origin for beep

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

Word Origin and History for beeping

beep

interj.

1927, imitative of automobile horns (originally of the sound of a certain type of automobile horn among several types in use in the years after the klaxon horn was brought into use c.1910). Used as a noun and verb by 1929. Related: Beeped; beeping.