blip

American  

[blip] / blɪp /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (intr) to produce such a noise

Etymology

Origin of blip

1890–95, for an earlier sense; sound symbolism, with p for brevity and abrupt end of the impulse; bl- perhaps from blink

Example Sentences

“To me, if we can make net power for a blip, that would already be a home run,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Micron Technology shares were on pace to snap a six-session losing streak Friday, with an analyst likening the recent market freakout over memory stocks to last winter’s DeepSeek saga that ultimately proved a blip.

From MarketWatch

"For a long time, no one knew quite what to make of these oddball little blips of dimming," Bouma said.

From Science Daily

It’s hard to see if this is a brewing crisis or a blip.

From The Wall Street Journal

“When the PPI surged in January, it could be downplayed as a one-off, turn-of-the-year blip. The further surge in wholesale prices in February is a sign of trouble.”

From Barron's

Related Words

• glitch