bleep

American  

[bleep] / blip /

noun

1. a brief, constant beeping sound, usually of a high pitch and generated by an electronic device.

2. such an electronic sound used to replace a censored word or phrase, as on a television broadcast.

3. Also (used as a euphemism to indicate the omission or deletion of an obscenity or other objectionable word.)

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verb (used without object)

1. (of an electronic device) to emit a series of bleeps as an audible signal, summons, or warning.

verb (used with object)

1. Also to censor (an obscene, vulgar, or other objectionable word or phrase) from a radio or television broadcast by deleting from the audio signal, leaving a gap or an electronic tone.

   The word was bleeped out of the comedian's routine.

bleep British  

/ bliːp /

noun

1. a short high-pitched signal made by an electronic apparatus; beep

2. another word for bleeper

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verb

1. (intr) to make such a noise

2. (tr) to call (someone) by triggering the bleeper he or she is wearing

Etymology

Origin of bleep

First recorded in 1950–55; perhaps imitative

Example Sentences

The corporation declined to comment further on why it wasn't initially edited or bleeped out.

From BBC

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch told Good Morning Britain the BBC had made "a horrible mistake", adding: "I think an apology is important, they need to explain why it wasn't bleeped out."

From BBC

There are oxygen tubes and IVs and monitors with bleeping lights.

From Literature

I kind of sleep, kind of don’t—the bells go off, announcements bleep out across the air.

From Literature

I got a more alarming “bleep” during dumbbell thrusters: “Go deeper so your thighs are closer to parallel.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• annul
• black out
• cross out
• cut out
• destroy
• eliminate
• erase
• expunge
• omit
• remove
• wipe out