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

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phase of the moon	Definitions include: a metaphorical condition that something depends on.
IDGAS	Definitions include: acronym for "I don't give a shit".
gorilla arm	Definitions include: an arm that has become sore, cramped, and / or muscular due to extended use of touch screens on computing devices.
time sink	Definitions include: a project that is capable of consuming a practically unlimited amount of time.
TTYT	Definitions include: acronym for "talk to you tomorrow".
dehose	Definitions include: to repair or fix something that has been hosed.
zap	Definitions include: zapping someone is cussing them out.
pls	Definitions include: "please".
LMRO	Definitions include: acronym for "laughing my rear off" or "laughing my rump off".
srsly	Definitions include: "seriously."
TY	Definitions include: acronym for "thank you".
IM	Definitions include: to contact a person via an Internet-based "Instant Messaging" service, such as MSN Instant Messenger or AOL Instant Messenger.
ATM	Definitions include: acronym for "ass-to-mouth", i.e. a sex act in which anal sex is immediately followed by fellatio or cunnilingus.
munge	Definitions include: to transform data in an irreversible way.
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(show 591 more)
Other terms relating to 'to contact, call, mail':
give (one) a shout	Definitions include: to contact a person.
hit up	Definitions include: to contact a person, especially by calling on a phone.
buzz	Definitions include: to call on a telephone.
HMU	Definitions include: acronym for "hit me up".
get up with	Definitions include: to contact (e.g. by telephone) or to hang out with.
robocall	Definitions include: an automated phone call where the "caller" is a recorded or computer-generated message.
holla	Definitions include: to talk or to contact, especially at some later time.
butt-dial	Definitions include: to accidentally call a person on a cellphone that's in one's pocket.
MySpace	Definitions include: to send a person a comment or a message on MySpace.com.
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?

run-down	Definitions include: dilapidated.
don't do me	Definitions include: see do me.
TCOB	Definitions include: acronym for "take care of business", "taking care of business", "took care of business", etc.
*btch made**	Definitions include: a person who's scared to do something.
ecohacking	Definitions include:
nom de internet	Definitions include: the alias one uses on the Internet.
hit the sack	Definitions include: to go to bed.
FFRSVPC	Definitions include: acronym for Fight or Flight Response Sin-Virtue Position Compromise
rock to sleep	Definitions include: to hit someone causing the person to lose consciousness.
add fuel to the fire	Definitions include: to make a bad situation worse.