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

Even a global pandemic, during which more than 1 million Americans died, proved to be a mere blip for stocks.

Read more on MarketWatch

Liverpool's blip is becoming a full-blown crisis as manager Arne Slot urgently seeks answers after the Premier League champions suffered a fourth straight defeat for the first time in more than a decade.

Read more on Barron's

Even a global pandemic, during which more than 1 million Americans died, proved to be a mere blip.

Read more on MarketWatch

Henry was a battering ram for Baltimore last season; on Sunday he was barely a blip with 33 yards on 15 carries.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Right now, if the economy keeps on growing as fast as it has been and the jobs slowdown proves merely a blip, the Fed will have to abandon predicted rate cuts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• glitch