glitch
Americannoun
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a defect or malfunction in a machine or plan.
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Computers. any error, malfunction, or problem.
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a brief or sudden interruption or surge in voltage in an electric circuit.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a sudden instance of malfunctioning or irregularity in an electronic system
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a change in the rotation rate of a pulsar
Etymology
Origin of glitch
First recorded in 1960–65; perhaps from Yiddish glitsh “slippery area”; compare glitshn, German glitschen “to slip, slide”
Explanation
A glitch is a problem or malfunction, usually a temporary one, in a system or machine. Your science fair team might experience a major glitch in your plans if you lose your data tables as the result of a computer glitch. Glitch is a pretty new word, introduced in the 1960s when the science and technology of space flight was being developed. It originally meant a sudden surge of electrical current that caused a disturbance or malfunction. The word can also be used more broadly to describe any unexpected difficultly, like the glitch in your travel plans that resulted from airport delays.
Vocabulary lists containing glitch
English Words Derived from Yiddish
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This Week in Words: January 26 - February 1, 2019
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Out of My Mind
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s a system that has left the app stores full of junk, says Anil Dash, who runs the coding platform Glitch.
From Slate • Dec. 15, 2023
They said their work at Glitch UK has shown that abuse and misinformation could be prevented, or at least mitigated, with the right investment and collaboration with experts.
From BBC • Dec. 13, 2022
The company believed in the service enough to raise $30 million in funding in 2018 and drop the Fog Creek name in favor of Glitch.
From The Verge • May 19, 2022
Mr. Dash, who is now the chief executive of Glitch, said Twitter’s decentralization strategy hinged on its ability to woo developers back.
From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2022
Three quick swipes of the card later, and we were in the official Glitch room.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
