pip
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a small seed found inside fruits like apples, oranges, or grapes.
n.a small, hard seed in a fleshy fruit.
Simple“She spat the orange pips into a napkin while she ate.”
In context“The chef meticulously removed every pip from the lemon juice to ensure the sauce remained perfectly smooth.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a short, high-pitched electronic sound, often used to signal the time on the radio.
n.a short, high-frequency sound pulse, typically used as a time signal or in telecommunications.
Simple“We heard the pips on the radio just before the news started at six o'clock.”
In context“The broadcast was preceded by six pips, the last of which marked the precise start of the new hour.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a small star-shaped badge worn on a military or police uniform to show a person's rank.
n.a small insignia worn on the shoulder of a uniform to denote commissioned rank.
Simple“The young officer was proud of the new pips on his shoulders.”
In context“Having recently been promoted to captain, he now wore three pips on each shoulder strap of his service dress.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.the smallest change in value for a currency price in trading.
n.the smallest unit of price change in foreign exchange trading, typically representing the fourth decimal place.
Simple“The trader made a profit when the exchange rate moved up by ten pips.”
In context“High-frequency trading algorithms are designed to exploit price fluctuations as small as a single pip across multiple currency pairs.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to beat someone in a race or competition by a very small amount.
v.to defeat a competitor by a very narrow margin, often at the final moment.
Simple“She was leading the whole race, but another runner pipped her at the finish line.”
In context“The incumbent candidate was pipped at the post by a newcomer who won by fewer than fifty votes.”
UsageOften used with 'at the post' or 'to the finish'.
“Oliver Stone’s Platoon (1986) dominated the Oscars before Hamburger Hill had even been released, while Stanley Kubrick ’s Full Metal Jacket (1987) pipped Irvin’s film to the post in the US.”
“Then the researchers piped apple cider vinegar into that airstream, switching it on and off depending on the fly’s position on this virtual field.”