■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
1》 break with a sharp cracking sound.
2》 (of an animal) make a sudden audible bite.
↘( ~ something up ) quickly secure something that is in short supply.
3》 open or close with a brisk movement or sharp sound.
4》 suddenly lose one's self-control.
↘say something quickly and irritably.
5》 ( ~ out of ) informal get out of (a bad mood) by a sudden effort.
6》 take a ~shot of.
7》 American Football put (the ball) into play by a quick backward movement.
■ noun
1》 an act or sound of ~ping.
2》 (usu. cold ~ ) a brief period of cold weather.
3》 vigour; liveliness.
4》 a ~shot.
5》 Brit. a card game in which players compete to call ‘~’ as soon as two cards of the same type are exposed.
6》 a crisp, brittle biscuit.
7》 N. Amer. informal an easy task.
8》 N. Amer. a press stud.
■ adjective done or taken on the spur of the moment: a ~ decision.
Phrases
in a ~ informal, chiefly N. Amer. in a moment.
Derivatives
~pable adjective
~ping adjective
~pingly adverb
Origin
C15: prob. from MDu. or Mid. Low Ger. ~pen 'seize'; partly imitative.