pip
1[ pip ]
/ pɪp /
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noun
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.
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.
Informal. metal insigne of rank on the shoulders of commissioned officers: the museum's collection of German pips and buttons.
Horticulture.
- an individual rootstock of a plant, especially of the lily of the valley: This low-growing perennial forms dense clumps from its slender pips.
- 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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Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of pip
1First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier peep; origin uncertain
Other definitions for pip (2 of 7)
pip2
[ pip ]
/ pɪp /
noun
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.
Facetious.Usually the pip . any minor or unspecified ailment in a person: Oh, no, not that annoying neighbor—he gives me the pip.
Origin of pip
2First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English pippe, from Middle Dutch, from unattested Vulgar Latin pipita, for Latin pītuīta “phlegm, pip”
Other definitions for pip (3 of 7)
pip3
[ pip ]
/ pɪp /
noun
a small seed, especially of a fleshy fruit, as an apple or orange: Does the juicer remove the pips or just grind them up?
Also called pipperoo. Informal. someone or something wonderful: Last night's party was a pip.
Origin of pip
3First recorded in 1590–1600; 1910–15 for def. 2; short for pippin
Other definitions for pip (4 of 7)
pip4
[ pip ]
/ pɪp /
verb (used without object), pipped, pip·ping.
to peep or chirp: Listen to those chicks pip!
(of a hatching bird) to break out from the shell: How long before the eaglets start pipping?
verb (used with object), pipped, pip·ping.
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.
Origin of pip
4First recorded in 1650–60; variant of peep2
Other definitions for pip (5 of 7)
Origin of pip
5First recorded in 1940–45; imitative
Other definitions for pip (6 of 7)
pip6
[ pip ]
/ pɪp /
verb (used with object), pipped, pip·ping.British Slang.
to blackball: Are you telling me I've been pipped from the entire music industry?
to defeat (an opponent): No one expected our team to pip those hotshots from Birmingham.
to shoot, especially to wound or kill by a gunshot: Get that pistol out of here before someone gets pipped.
Origin of pip
6First recorded in 1875–80; perhaps special use of pip1, in metaphorical sense of a small ball
Other definitions for pip (7 of 7)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pip in a sentence
The apparatus was later improved by Pipping, who used a diamond in place of the steel point.
He had at that time a pig which was ready for pipping; she had a litter of seven, and they all died.
Animal Ghosts|Elliott O'DonnellIn a moment he is out again with a great rush and sputter, gripping his fish and pip-pipping his exultation.
Wood Folk at School|William J. LongAs a rule it takes ducklings from 24 to 48 hours to hatch after the pipping first begins.
Ducks and Geese|Harry M. Lamon
British Dictionary definitions for pip (1 of 4)
pip1
/ (pɪp) /
noun
the seed of a fleshy fruit, such as an apple or pear
any of the segments marking the surface of a pineapple
a rootstock or flower of the lily of the valley or certain other plants
Word Origin for pip
C18: short for pippin
British Dictionary definitions for pip (2 of 4)
pip2
/ (pɪp) /
noun
a short high-pitched sound, a sequence of which can act as a time signal, esp on radio
a radar blip
- a spot or single device, such as a spade, diamond, heart, or club on a playing card
- any of the spots on dice or dominoes
Also called: star informal the emblem worn on the shoulder by junior officers in the British Army, indicating their rank
verb pips, pipping or pipped
(of a young bird)
- (intr) to chirp; peep
- to pierce (the shell of its egg) while hatching
(intr) to make a short high-pitched sound
Word Origin for pip
C16 (in the sense: spot or speck); C17 (vb); C20 (in the sense: short high-pitched sound): of obscure, probably imitative origin; senses 1 and 5 are probably related to peep ²
British Dictionary definitions for pip (3 of 4)
pip3
/ (pɪp) /
noun
a contagious disease of poultry characterized by the secretion of thick mucus in the mouth and throat
facetious, slang a minor human ailment
British, Australian, NZ and Southern African slang a bad temper or depression (esp in the phrase give (someone) the pip)
get the pip or have the pip NZ informal to sulk
verb pips, pipping or pipped
British slang to cause to be annoyed or depressed
Word Origin for pip
C15: from Middle Dutch pippe, ultimately from Latin pituita phlegm; see pituitary
British Dictionary definitions for pip (4 of 4)
pip4
/ (pɪp) /
verb pips, pipping or pipped (tr) British slang
to wound or kill, esp with a gun
to defeat (a person), esp when his success seems certain (often in the phrase pip at the post)
to blackball or ostracize
Word Origin for pip
C19 (originally in the sense: to blackball): probably from pip ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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