ping

Meaning

Noun

1. A high-pitched, short and somewhat sharp sound.
2. A pulse of high-pitched or ultrasonic sound whose echoes provide information about nearby objects and vessels.
3. A packet which a remote host is expected to echo, thus indicating its presence.
4. An email or other message sent requesting acknowledgement.
5. Latency.
6. A means of highlighting a feature on the game map so that allied players can see it.
7. A notification.

Verb

1. To make a high-pitched, short and somewhat sharp sound.
2. To emit a signal and then listen for its echo in order to detect objects.
3. To send a packet in order to determine whether a host is present, particularly by use of the ping utility.
4. To send an email or other message to someone in hopes of eliciting a response.
5. (colloquial) To flick.
6. (colloquial) To bounce.
7. (colloquial) To cause something to bounce.
8. (colloquial) To call out audibly.
9. (colloquial) To penalize.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɪŋ/

Etymology

Partly onomatopoeic, and partly continuing Middle English pingen (“to push, shove, pierce, stab, prod, goad, urge, feel remorse, incite”), from Old English pyngan (“to prick”), in turn likely from pungere. Compare English pang.