/ pɪp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually seed ) the small hard seed that is found in some types of fruit :
an apple / orange pip
—picture at grapefruit , apple
2.
the pips [ pl. ] ( old-fashioned , BrE ) a series of short high sounds, especially those used when giving the exact time on the radio
3.
( NAmE ) one of the dots showing the value on dice and dominoes ; one of the marks showing the value and suit of a playing card
■ verb
( -pp- ) [ vn ] ( BrE , informal ) to beat sb in a race, competition, etc. by only a small amount or at the last moment :
She pipped her rival for the gold medal.
He was pipped at / to the post for the top award.
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 1 late 18th cent.: abbreviation of pippin .
noun sense 2 early 20th cent.: imitative.
noun sense 3 late 16th cent. (originally peep , denoting each of the dots on playing cards, dice, and dominoes): of unknown origin.
verb late 19th cent.: from the noun pip .