pip

/pɪp/
verb
  1. To make a short, high-pitched sound.
    • The little bird pipped softly from its nest.
    • My phone pipped to alert me of a new message.
    • The smoke detector pipped twice before going silent.
  2. To break through the shell when hatching (of a bird or reptile).
    • We watched the chick pip its way out of the egg.
    • After days of waiting, the egg finally pipped.
    • The turtle hatchling pipped the shell with its beak.
  3. To defeat someone by a very small margin, especially in a race or competition.
    • She pipped her rival at the finish line by just a tenth of a second.
    • He was pipped for the award by a last-minute entry.
    • The underdog team pipped the champions 3–2 in the final minute.
noun
  1. A small seed, especially inside a fruit like an apple, orange, or grape.
    • The orange had too many pips for the children to enjoy.
    • He spit the grape pip into a napkin.
    • She carefully removed the pips from the apple before slicing it.
  2. A small, short, high-pitched sound, like a beep or a signal.
    • I heard three pips on the phone, then the message started.
    • The radar emitted a steady pip every second.
    • The computer gave a soft pip to confirm the file was saved.
  3. One of the small round marks on dice, dominoes, or playing cards that show the value.
    • Each card in the deck has pips in the corners.
    • The die showed four pips on its top face.
    • He counted the pips on the domino to add up the score.
  4. A star on an officer's uniform, especially in the British military, showing rank.
    • The captain's uniform had three gold pips on each shoulder.
    • She polished the brass pips on her collar before the parade.
    • He earned his second pip and was promoted to lieutenant.
Synonyms
What does "pip" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean