bleep

views updated May 18 2018

bleep / blēp/ • n. a short high-pitched sound made by an electronic device as a signal or to attract attention: the autopilot sent back an acknowledgment bleep. ∎  a sound of this type used in broadcasting as a substitute for a censored word or phrase.• v. [intr.] (of an electronic device) make a short high-pitched sound or repeated sequence of sounds: the screen flickered for a few moments and bleeped. ∎  [tr.] substitute a bleep or bleeps for (a censored word or phrase): cable operators have bleeped out the accuser's name. ∎  used in place of an expletive: “what the bleep are we going to do?” he asked.