noun
blip
blihp
noun
1
A small, brief signal or dot, such as one seen on a radar screen.
"A single blip appeared on the radar and then vanished."
2
A minor, temporary change that departs from the normal pattern.
"Analysts called the drop in sales a temporary blip, not a trend."
"It was just a blip in an otherwise steady recovery."
verb
1
To briefly rev an engine, especially when changing gear.
"The driver blipped the throttle on the downshift into the corner."
How to Use Blip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, short-lived signal or irregularity — often used to downplay a change as temporary and not significant.
Common pairings
a blip on the radar
just a blip
a temporary blip
Word Forms
blipped past tense, blips plural, blips singular
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A single _____ appeared on the radar and then vanished.
Etymology
An imitative (onomatopoeic) word, mimicking the short electronic beep of the sound or signal it describes.