Definition of ping

ping

interjection

a message (sent literally) to enquire whether someone is present via instant messaging or internet chat. ACK is the affirmative response. (NAK is a humorous negative response, meaning "No, I'm not here.")
Person A: ping.

Person B: ACK.
Person A: ping.

Person B: NAK.
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
- See more words with the same meaning: to schedule, check the availability of.
Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Apr 18 2009.

noun

a measure of network lag, often used in online gaming.
I'm getting terrible pings, so I'm going to connect to a different server.
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
Last edited on Apr 18 2009. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Apr 18 2009.
a short message sent to a person, often to enquire about their availability.
Could you send Bob a ping and see if he's available for a 4pm meeting?
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
- See more words with the same meaning: to schedule, check the availability of.
Last edited on Apr 18 2009. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Apr 18 2009.

verb - transitive

to send a short message to someone or call them briefly, often to enquire about their availability.
Could you ping Bob and see if he's available for a 4pm meeting?
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
- See more words with the same meaning: to schedule, check the availability of.
Last edited on Aug 02 2010. Submitted by Mark L. from Newburyport, MA, USA on Nov 07 1999.
to contact by any means.
I'll ping you later, when we are ready.
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
- See more words with the same meaning: to contact, call, mail.
Last edited on Aug 02 2010. Submitted by Tom B. from Hoboken, NJ, USA on Aug 31 2003.
to send a message to a mailing list, requesting that all subscribers to the list respond to the message. This is done to verify that all subscribers' email addresses work properly.
I haven't gotten a status report from Tim lately, but he did respond when we pinged the development list.
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
- See more words with the same meaning: to contact, call, mail.
Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Apr 18 2009.

origin

From a utility written in 1983 by Mike Muuss, that checks whether a remote computer can respond to network traffic. In turn, this utility (ping) was named after the submariners' term for a sonar pulse (ping).
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
- See more words with the same meaning: to schedule, check the availability of.
Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Apr 18 2009.

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Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'computer slang':
CNBU	Definitions include: acronym for "cannot be unseen".
woot	Definitions include: an expression of excitement or joy, used mostly by computer aficionados.
plz	Definitions include: "please".
NWS	Definitions include: acronym for "not work safe".
nagware	Definitions include: shareware software that nags the user if it hasn't yet been purchased.
eyeball	Definitions include: to stare at.
DMIID	Definitions include: acronym for "don't mind if I do".
interweb	Definitions include: "internet."
ad-hockery	Definitions include: one-off solutions that deal with some special case, rather than a more all-encompassing solution.
brute force	Definitions include: non-elegant, in a way that solves a problem using the sheer amount of computer processing available, rather than finding (or inventing) a smarter technique.
IDEK	Definitions include: acronym for "I don't even know".
abt	Definitions include: "about".
copy-pasta	Definitions include: something repeatedly posted on an internet-based discussion forum.
/s	Definitions include: used at the end of text-based communication to indicate that the content was sarcastic.
G2G	Definitions include: acronym for "got to go".
(show 567 more)
Other terms relating to 'to contact, call, mail':
buzz	Definitions include: to call on a telephone.
give (one) a shout	Definitions include: to contact a person.
hit up	Definitions include: to contact a person, especially by calling on a phone.
MySpace	Definitions include: to send a person a comment or a message on MySpace.com.
get up with	Definitions include: to contact (e.g. by telephone) or to hang out with.
butt-dial	Definitions include: to accidentally call a person on a cellphone that's in one's pocket.
HMU	Definitions include: acronym for "hit me up".
holla	Definitions include: to talk or to contact, especially at some later time.
Other terms relating to 'to schedule, check the availability of':
pencil in	Definitions include: to tentatively add something to one's schedule.
calendar	Definitions include: to examine schedules to determine a time when two or more people would be available to meet for some purpose.

Slang terms with the same root words

None. How about some random words?

*fckmuppet**	Definitions include: a person who is used as a fucktoy.
more cuckoo than a clock factory	Definitions include: very cuckoo, i.e. crazy.
realt	Definitions include: A real estate investor of two of more real properties. A recursive acronym derived from the definition itself, a REAL estate investor of Two or more REAL properties. Recognized as distinctly different from the single family homeowner in that a Realt views real estate as an asset worthy of multiple holdings and portfolio investment rather than simply a residence.
run it up the flagpole	Definitions include: to present an idea and test the reaction.
escort	Definitions include: a prostitute who doesn't work at a brothel.
five-spot	Definitions include: a five dollar bill.
GOY	Definitions include: acronym for "get over yourself".
fuzzily	Definitions include: imprecisely.
dumbphone	Definitions include: a cellphone that lacks the features of so-called "smart phones".
fail a fortitude save	Definitions include: to be ill, drunk, or otherwise unhealthy, or affected negatively by a substance.