pip

To beat someone by a very small amount, often just before the end of a competition.

• They pipped us by one point.
• She pipped the favourite at the finish line.
• Can he pip his rival to the title?

How to use it: pip someone to something (She pipped her rival to first place.); pip someone by something (They pipped us by one point.)

Similar words: edge out, narrowly beat

Common phrases: pip someone narrowly, pip someone by something, pip someone to something

To take the seeds out of fruit.

• Pip the grapes before serving them.
• She peeled and pipped the oranges.
• Have you pipped the fruit for the jam?

Similar words: deseed, seed

Common phrases: pip the grapes, pip an orange, peel and pip

To hit someone or something with a bullet.

• The hunter pipped a duck.
• A soldier pipped him in the shoulder.
• He tried to pip the rabbit with his rifle.

Similar words: shoot

Common phrases: pip a duck, pip the target, pip someone with something

To make a short, high sound like a small bird.

• The chick pipped softly.
• Small birds were pipping in the nest.
• We heard a chick pip inside the egg.

Similar words: peep, chirp

Common phrases: pip softly, pip in something, pip from something

One of the small dots or signs on a die, domino, or playing card.

• This die has one pip showing.
• Count the pips on both halves of the domino.
• The card had five red pips.

Similar words: spot, dot

Common phrases: a single pip, count each pip, a red pip

A disease that makes it difficult for birds, especially chickens, to breathe.

• The hen has pip.
• Several birds in the flock developed pip.
• The farmer checked the chickens for signs of pip.

Common phrases: a chicken with pip, suffer from pip, treat for pip

A person or thing that is especially good or impressive.

• That car is a pip.
• She's a real pip, always ready to help.
• They thought the new show was a pip.

How to use it: a pip of a something (That was a pip of a party.)

Similar words: gem, marvel

Common phrases: a real pip, a regular pip, a pip of something

A very small mark or piece of something.

• A black pip marked the white surface.
• There were tiny pips of paint on his sleeve.
• She noticed a red pip near the edge.

Similar words: speck, spot, dot

Common phrases: a tiny pip, a black pip, a pip of paint