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blip

(blĭp)

1. A spot of light on a radar or sonar screen indicating the position of a detected object, such as an aircraft or a submarine. Also called pip³.

2. A high-pitched electronic sound; a bleep.

3. A transient sharp upward or downward movement, as on a graph.

4. A temporary or insignificant phenomenon, especially a brief departure from the normal: "The decline in the share of GNP going to health ... appears to be a one-time blip in the historic trend rather than the start of a new trend" (Atlantic).

tr.v. blipped, blip·ping, blips

To bleep.

[Imitative.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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