Definition

1. Noun:

   • A short, high-pitched electronic sound, typically used as a signal, alert, or warning.

2. Verb:

   • To produce a short, high-pitched electronic sound.
   • To contact or signal someone using a pager (beeper).

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • I heard a beep from the microwave when my food was ready.
  • The truck made a loud beep as it reversed.

• Verb (to produce a sound):

  • The machine will beep three times to indicate completion.
  • Why does your computer beep every time you press that key?

• Verb (to contact via pager):

  • The doctor was beeped for an emergency.
  • I'll beep you when I'm on my way.

Advanced Usage

• "to beep someone": This usage is less common now but specifically means to send a signal to someone's pager (beeper), causing it to beep.
  • Before cell phones, nurses would beep the on-call doctor.

Variants and Related Words

• Beeper (n): A small electronic device (pager) that receives and emits beeps to alert the carrier.
  • He carried a beeper for his job.
• Beep-beep (n): An informal, often childish representation of the sound, especially for a car horn.
  • The little boy said "beep-beep" while playing with his toy cars.

Synonyms

• Noun: Tone, signal, alert, chirp, ping.
• Verb (sound): Sound, chirp, signal, blip.
• Verb (contact): Page, buzz.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Beep out: To censor an offensive word in a broadcast by replacing it with a beep sound.
  • The station had to beep out several swear words from the live interview.

Related Idioms

• "Beep me if you need me": An informal way to say "contact me if you need me," originating from the use of pagers.
  • I'm running to the store. Beep me if there's an emergency.

Noun

1. a short high tone produced as a signal or warning

Verb

1. call, summon, or alert with a beeper
2. make a loud noise
   • The horns of the taxis blared