A short, high-pitched sound typically produced by an electronic device to give a signal. It is an onomatopoeic word for this sound.
example
Als die Mikrowelle fertig war, ertönte ein lauter Bip.
When the microwave was finished, a loud beep sounded.
Usage tips
Onomatopoeic word
The word 'Bip' (beep) is an onomatopoeic word. It imitates the short, high-pitched sound it describes, similar to 'Miau' (meow) for a cat.
EXAMPLE
Der Wecker macht jeden Morgen einen nervigen Bip.
The alarm clock makes an annoying beep every morning.
Typical verbs
A 'Bip' (beep) is often combined with certain verbs. You especially often hear 'ein Bip ertönt' (a beep sounds) or 'ein Gerät macht einen Bip' (a device makes a beep).
EXAMPLE
Als ich den Code eingab, ertönte ein kurzer Bip.
When I entered the code, a short beep sounded.
Describing the sound
To describe the sound more precisely, 'Bip' (beep) is often combined with adjectives such as 'kurz' (short), 'hoch' (high-pitched), 'laut' (loud), or 'leise' (quiet).
EXAMPLE
Ich hörte nur einen leisen Bip aus dem anderen Zimmer.