/t͡ʃɜːp/, /t͡ʃɚp/, /t͡ʃɘːp/
OriginFrom Middle English *chirpen (attested only in the derivative Middle English chirpinge, cyrpynge, chyrypynge (“chirping”). Compare Middle English chirken and chirmen. More at chirk, chirm. Compare also Middle English chirten (“to smack, chirrup”).
- A short, sharp or high note or noise, as of a bird or insect.
- A pulse of signal whose frequency sweeps through a band of frequencies for the duration of the pulse; the quality of having a such a variation in frequency.
“The long fiber lengths required to linearize the chirp can then be used […]”
- intransitiveTo make a short, sharp, cheerful note, as of small birds or crickets; to chitter; to twitter.
“"Well, I suppose you didn't come out of the egg either before you could chirp," said the woman who was on the egg.”
- intransitiveTo speak in a high-pitched staccato.
- transitiveTo modify (a pulse of signal) so that it sweeps through a band of frequencies throughout its duration.
- obsolete, transitiveTo cheer up; to make (someone) happier.
- CanadaTo speak rapid insulting comical banter back and forth; to bicker or argue.
- UK, obsolete, slangTo inform on someone; snitch.
Formschirps(plural) · chirps(present, singular, third-person) · chirping(participle, present) · chirped(participle, past) · chirped(past)