beep Definition
beep (bēp)
noun
- the brief, high-pitched sound of a horn, as on an automobile or bicycle
- a brief, high-pitched electronic signal, used in warning, direction-finding, etc.
Etymology: echoic
intransitive verb
to make such a sound
transitive verb
to cause to make such a sound
beep Usage Examples
Object
- horn: I can't believe someone beeping a car horn could warrant such a massive police turn-out.
- noise: A count to ten then starts on an electronic counter, which signals a beeping noise on each count.
Converse of object
- emit: A technician can get a good idea of the cause of the problem from the number of beeps emitted.
- annoy: This isn't helped by the bike emitting an annoying beep every time you press a button.
- hear: You will hear a long beep followed by a second beep.
Adjective modifier
- audible: Audible beep at the end of each exposure, and optional seconds tick whilst the enlarger is switched on.
- electronic: An electronic beep let Carl know it was that time of day again.
- single: The system is activated when reverse gear is engaged and indicated by a single beep.
- short: At the end of filling the matrix controller yields short beeps with 1 sec period.
- long: You will hear a long beep followed by a second beep.
- little: No LEDs on the keyboard, no little beep.
Modifies a noun
- code: A separate chapter also has tables for the beep codes.
- sound: Their distress call is a high pitched beep beep sound.
Noun used with modifier
- printer: There is paper loaded on the tractor unit, but the printer beeps three times.
- warning: A warning beep tone will be present whilst 3 callers are present.
- error: As soon as I type a space, I get a system error beep and I can't add anything else.
- machine: And their machines beep when they shift into backward gear.
- computer: Powerful computers beep whenever you press a key or whenever the screen changes.
- phone: You should hear the phone beep, confirming the upload.
Used with why or when
when: Walk back out the front doors and you should beep when going through the scanner, but the guards will not shoot you.

