glitch

n. a small and sudden problem that stops a machine or system from working for a short time.

n. a minor, typically intermittent malfunction in a system or device that disrupts normal operation.

“A technical glitch in the banking app prevented customers from seeing their balance.”

“The launch was delayed by several hours due to a minor software glitch that affected the communication array's primary sensors.”

Informal

n. an error in a computer program or video game that causes strange behavior.

n. a software bug or unintended behavior in a digital environment, often exploited by users to gain an advantage.

“I found a glitch in the game that lets my character walk through walls.”

“Speedrunners often spend hundreds of hours practicing specific glitches that allow them to bypass entire levels of the game.”

Informal

n. a sudden change in how fast a certain type of star spins.

n. a sudden, discrete increase in the rotational frequency of a pulsar, often followed by a period of gradual recovery.

“Scientists observed a glitch in the pulsar's rotation during their study.”

“The sudden glitch in the pulsar's timing provided researchers with valuable data regarding the star's internal superfluid dynamics.”

Technical

v. to have a sudden, temporary problem that stops something from working.

v. to suffer a temporary or intermittent technical failure; often used intransitively.

“The screen started to glitch and show strange colors after I dropped the phone.”

“The live broadcast began to glitch during the final segment, resulting in several seconds of distorted audio and frozen frames.”

Informal