Definition of "blip" in English

noun

1. (electronics) A small dot registered on electronic equipment, such as a radar or oscilloscope screen.

2. A short sound of a single pitch, usually electronically generated.

3. (by extension) A brief and usually minor aberration or deviation from what is expected or normal.

4. (Internet, historical) An individual message or document in the Google Wave software framework.

verb

1. (intransitive) To make a short beep sound.

   • The door blipped as I showed my electronic identity card and passed through.

2. (intransitive, informal) To change state abruptly, such as between off and on or dark and light, sometimes implying motion.

   • 1977-1980, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure We got a call that Pat still on the respirator & that the doc said that now because the EEG was blipping, they couldn't unhook him from the respirator.

3. (transitive) Synonym of bleep (“to replace offending words in a broadcast recording with a tone”).

4. (automotive) To apply the throttle briefly when downshifting, to provide a smoother gear transition and prevent wheelspin.