beeps

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of beep.

   A series of beeps signaled that the scanner had finished reading the barcode.

   The truck emitted loud beeps as it reversed toward the loading dock.

   Note

   One spelling serves two words: this countable noun and the present-tense verb. As a noun it counts sounds such as horn blasts and short electronic tones. It also counts messages sent to a pager, so "I got three beeps" can mean three pages. In dated US slang the plural could name military light trucks, a use to recognize in older writing rather than revive.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of beep.

   The cash register beeps as the clerk scans each item.

   His watch beeps on the hour to remind him to take a break.

   Note

   Here the verb works with or without an object. Without one, a machine beeps. With one, a person beeps someone: pages them, or lets the phone ring once to ask for a call back. A euphemistic use, modeled on the bleep that censors broadcasts, means having sex with someone. That makes "she beeps him" open to more than one reading, and context usually settles which.

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