1
a
: a disorder of a bird marked by formation of a scale or crust on the tongue
b
: the scale or crust of this disorder
2
a
: any of various human ailments
especially
: a slight nonspecific disorder
b
chiefly British
: a feeling of irritation or annoyance
pipped; pipping
2
: to break through the shell of the egg
the chick pipped
: to break open (the shell of an egg) in hatching
1
a
: one of the dots used on dice and dominoes to indicate numerical value
b
2
a
b
: spike entry 1 sense 6a
also
: blip
3
: an individual rootstock of the lily of the valley
4
: a diamond-shaped insignia of rank worn by a second lieutenant, lieutenant, or captain in the British army
1
: a small fruit seed
especially
: one of a several-seeded fleshy fruit
2
: one extraordinary of its kind
chiefly British
: a short high-pitched tone
Examples of pip in a Sentence
Noun (1)
listening to all that chat show blather gives me the pip
Verb (1)
baby birds pipping loudly in their nest
Noun (2)
a black horse with white pips
Noun (3)
that new sports car is a real pip
Recent Examples on the Web
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Eaglets make a pip — or a crack in the egg — as the chick hatches.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Another pip – that initial crack of an eggshell as a chick begins to hatch – was reported in a second egg Tuesday as Jackie and Shadow took turns carefully watching the hatchling’s progress.
—Devyn Byers, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Bald Eagle Livestream Viewership of the nest cam ramped up with news of the pips.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Callum Sutherland, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Aaron Ramsdale, meanwhile, was signed from Southampton on an initial loan with an option to buy once Manchester City pipped Newcastle to James Trafford.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Although they were pipped to the post in the international category at the 2025 Brit Awards, winners D.C.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2025
The McLarens took first and second in qualifying, with an amazing lap by Charles Leclerc that pipped Verstappen to third place by 3 milliseconds.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
The Under Armour veteran was pipped to the position after a similar CEO hunt following Amina Razvi’s departure after eight years in December 2023, a few months before the organization’s rebranding.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 July 2025
The Italian made an immediate impact and guided the Woking outfit to their first constructors’ title since 1998 after pipping Ferrari in the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
—Yara Elshebiny, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
He was pipped on two occasions by a solitary point to the title by Liverpool's North West rivals in what was the highest-quality rivalry in the competition's history.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
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Noun
First, the Blue = group requires 5 pips of the same number, and the only number that fits that bill is 2.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Eaglets make a pip — or a crack in the egg — as the chick hatches.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Another pip – that initial crack of an eggshell as a chick begins to hatch – was reported in a second egg Tuesday as Jackie and Shadow took turns carefully watching the hatchling’s progress.
—Devyn Byers, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Bald Eagle Livestream Viewership of the nest cam ramped up with news of the pips.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Machado pipped Trump to the award, who had relentlessly campaigned to win the prize himself, alongside a number of political allies including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Aaron Ramsdale, meanwhile, was signed from Southampton on an initial loan with an option to buy once Manchester City pipped Newcastle to James Trafford.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Although they were pipped to the post in the international category at the 2025 Brit Awards, winners D.C.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2025
The McLarens took first and second in qualifying, with an amazing lap by Charles Leclerc that pipped Verstappen to third place by 3 milliseconds.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
The Under Armour veteran was pipped to the position after a similar CEO hunt following Amina Razvi’s departure after eight years in December 2023, a few months before the organization’s rebranding.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 July 2025
The Italian made an immediate impact and guided the Woking outfit to their first constructors’ title since 1998 after pipping Ferrari in the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
—Yara Elshebiny, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
He was pipped on two occasions by a solitary point to the title by Liverpool's North West rivals in what was the highest-quality rivalry in the competition's history.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pip. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pip
1 of 3 verb
pipped; pipping
1
: to break through the shell of the egg in hatching
2
: to be broken by a pipping bird
eggs starting to pip
pip
2 of 3 noun1
: a dot or spot (as on dice or playing cards) that indicates numerical value
2
: blip
pip
3 of 3 noun1
: a small fruit seed
apple pips
2
: something very good of its kind
Etymology
Verb
imitative word
Noun
origin unknown
Noun
a shortened form of pippin "a kind of apple"
Medical Definition
pip
noun
: the formation of a scale or crust on the tip and dorsal surface of the tongue of a bird often associated with respiratory diseases
also
: the scale or crust itself
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