From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpippip1 /pɪp/ noun [countable] British English 1 HBPa small seed from a fruit such as an apple or orange an apple pip Have these oranges got pips in?2 SOUNDa high note that is part of a series of short sounds, used for example on the radio to show the time, or on a public telephone line to show that your money has almost finished SYN beep American English The pips are going so I’d better say goodbye.3 old-fashionedPMA one of the stars on the shoulders of the coats of army officers that shows their rank
Examples from the Corpus
pip• Dot wondered about the apple tree growing from a pip.• The Doctor placed the remainder of the apple in his mouth and proceeded to eat the core, stalk and pips.• Each pip a seed, each seed a growth, each growth - life.• Fruit pips are seeds, so try growing your miniature trees from these.• Alter the pips, the news came on.• In the centre was a large round circle enclosing the pips.• Most volcanic rocks contain some phenocrysts - they are a bit like the pips in raspberry jam.• Next, the pips of the computer dialing.pippip2 verb (pipped, pipping) [transitive] British English informal 1 → pip somebody at the post2 WINto beat someone in a race, competition etc, by only a small amountpip somebody to/for something Jackson just pipped him for the gold.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
pip• He was narrowly pipped at the post on time in the prestigious Derby event and also took runner-up in another speed event.• When they eventually went for him, at the end of 1986, they were pipped by Somerset.• Surprisingly not: New York just pipped Florida in the visitor stakes, though only just.• Yes ... I remember a hansom pipped me to a good prospect, in Threadneedle Street.• In a close encounter last season, Gloucester pipped Northampton by 7 points to 6.• Sec.'s team made a strong run at the post and just pipped Russell Mulford's team for second place.• But they met their match in Ryde School from the Isle of Wight, who pipped them for victory.• Manchester United pipped them in last season's Rumbelows Cup semi-final thriller and could pay for it today.Origin pip1 1. (1700-1800) pippin2. (1900-2000) From the sound3. (1900-2000) pip “ mark on a playing card showing its value ” 