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• pip
  pip

  noun

  one of the spots on dice, playing cards, or dominoes.
• Pip
  Pip

  noun

  a male given name, form of Philip.

pip

¹ American  

[pip] / pɪp /

noun

1. one of the spots on dice, playing cards, or dominoes.

   You need to match the two pips on this domino with two pips on one of your dominoes.

2. each of the small segments into which the surface of a pineapple is divided.

   Cut off the top of the pineapple, slicing through the first row of pips.

3. Informal. metal insigne of rank on the shoulders of commissioned officers.

   the museum's collection of German pips and buttons.

4. Horticulture.

   1. an individual rootstock of a plant, especially of the lily of the valley.

      This low-growing perennial forms dense clumps from its slender pips.

   2. a portion of the rootstock or root of several other plants.

      The peony's pips are those budlike growths at the top of the tuber.

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pip ² American  

[pip] / pɪp /

noun

1. Veterinary Pathology: Older Use. a contagious disease of birds, especially poultry, characterized by the secretion of a thick mucus in the mouth and throat.

   The last thing they wanted to find in the henhouse was a chicken with pip.

2. Facetious. Usually the pip any minor or unspecified ailment in a person.

   Oh, no, not that annoying neighbor—he gives me the pip.

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pip ³ American  

[pip] / pɪp /

noun

1. a small seed, especially of a fleshy fruit, as an apple or orange.

   Does the juicer remove the pips or just grind them up?

2. Also called pipperoo.  Informal. someone or something wonderful.

   Last night's party was a pip.

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pip ⁴ American  

[pip] / pɪp /

verb (used without object)

pipped, pipping

1. to peep or chirp.

   Listen to those chicks pip!

2. (of a hatching bird) to break out from the shell.

   How long before the eaglets start pipping?

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verb (used with object)

pipped, pipping

1. to crack or chip a hole through (the shell), as a hatching bird.

   All but one of the new brood has pipped through their shells.

pip ⁵ American  

[pip] / pɪp /

noun

Electronics.

1. blip.

   observing the radar screen for unusual pips.

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pip ⁶ American  

[pip] / pɪp /

verb (used with object)

British Slang.

pipped, pipping

1. to blackball.

   Are you telling me I've been pipped from the entire music industry?

2. to defeat (an opponent).

   No one expected our team to pip those hotshots from Birmingham.

3. to shoot, especially to wound or kill by a gunshot.

   Get that pistol out of here before someone gets pipped.

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Pip ⁷ American  

[pip] / pɪp /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Philip.

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pip ¹ British  

/ pɪp /

noun

1. a short high-pitched sound, a sequence of which can act as a time signal, esp on radio

2. a radar blip

3. 1. a spot or single device, such as a spade, diamond, heart, or club on a playing card

   2. any of the spots on dice or dominoes

4. Also called: star.  informal the emblem worn on the shoulder by junior officers in the British Army, indicating their rank

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verb

1. 1. (intr) to chirp; peep

   2. to pierce (the shell of its egg) while hatching

2. (intr) to make a short high-pitched sound

pip ² British  

/ pɪp /

noun

1. a contagious disease of poultry characterized by the secretion of thick mucus in the mouth and throat

2. facetious a minor human ailment

3. slang a bad temper or depression (esp in the phrase give ( someone ) the pip )

4. informal to sulk

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verb

1. slang to cause to be annoyed or depressed

pip ³ British  

/ pɪp /

noun

1. the seed of a fleshy fruit, such as an apple or pear

2. any of the segments marking the surface of a pineapple

3. a rootstock or flower of the lily of the valley or certain other plants

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pip ⁴ British  

/ pɪp /

verb

1. to wound or kill, esp with a gun

2. to defeat (a person), esp when his success seems certain (often in the phrase pip at the post )

3. to blackball or ostracize

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Etymology

Origin of pip¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier peep; origin uncertain

Origin of pip²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English pippe, from Middle Dutch, from unattested Vulgar Latin pipita, for Latin pītuīta “phlegm, pip”

Origin of pip³

First recorded in 1590–1600; 1910–15 pip ³ for def. 2; short for pippin

Origin of pip⁴

First recorded in 1650–60; variant of peep ²

Origin of pip⁵

First recorded in 1940–45; imitative

Origin of pip⁶

First recorded in 1875–80; perhaps special use of pip ¹, in metaphorical sense of a small ball

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pip Pip pipped pipping

For most of the campaign he seemed destined to finish as the league's top scorer, only for Manchester City's Teddie Lamb to pip him in the final couple of games.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

But a final run on which he did two flying laps enabled him to pip Antonelli by 0.068 seconds and Russell whooped with delight on the radio after realising he had secured pole.

From BBC ● May 23, 2026

They succeeded occasionally—Liverpool managed to pip him to a couple of championships—but Guardiola’s City took the title in six of the past eight years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

Watchers on Saturday spotted what appeared to be a pip in the second egg.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2026

Kyle half expected the guy to say “pip pip, cheerio” or something.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

The review suggests a sweeping overhaul of the Pip assessment system is needed.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

In initial findings published this week, external, Sir Stephen's review found Pip was not working for millions of disabled people and needs fundamental change.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

On Thursday the co-chair of the review, Sharon Brennan, told the BBC she and Sir Stephen were considering how they could change the Pip assessment process.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Fearing MPs would vote down the reforms, the government U-turned, saying it would not change Pip rules until it had time to consider the review's conclusions.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

“Which her name,” said Joe, gravely, “ain’t Estavisham, Pip, unless she have been rechris’ened.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Recent Glastonbury headliner Rodrigo pipped Ed Sheeran's = and Taylor Swift's Folklore to the top spot.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Antonelli pipped Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.043 seconds in a qualifying session that kept spectators and viewers on their edge of their seats until the very end.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli pipped Red Bull's Max Verstappen to pole position in a gripping qualifying session at the Monaco Grand Prix.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

Until this year, the tightest margin of victory belonged to Al Unser, Jr., who pipped Scott Goodyear to the line by 0.043 seconds in 1992.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

There are two young birds and one little speckled egg, just pipped.

From Wake-Robin by Burroughs, John

The margin of the victory was key, with England pipping Germany to top spot on goal difference and the only automatic spot.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

World number one Nelly Korda won her first US Women's Open title, pipping England's Charley Hull to victory by a single shot.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

Spaniard Alcaraz had the edge over Sinner over the course of the season, winning four of their six match-ups, which all decided top-level tournaments, and pipping his rival to the year-end world number one spot.

From Barron's ● Nov. 16, 2025

Last year English post-punk band English Teacher won with their debut album "This Could Be Texas", pipping favourite Charli XCX.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025

He had at that time a pig which was ready for pipping; she had a litter of seven, and they all died.

From Animal Ghosts Or, Animal Hauntings and the Hereafter by O'Donnell, Elliott

Related Words

• kernel
• pit
• seed