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':
HFS	Definitions include: acronym for "holy fucking shit".
IANAQP	Definitions include: "I am not a quantum physicist".
bang on	Definitions include: to test something before it is released or presented.
ROFL	Definitions include: acronym for "rolling on floor laughing".
-z	Definitions include: Replacement for the "s" suffix used to indicate plural nouns.
hackish	Definitions include: a hack or involving a hack.
FOCLOL	Definitions include: acronym for "falling off chair, laughing out loud".
LPT	Definitions include: acronym for "life protip".
CBA	Definitions include: acronym for "can't be arsed".
KMT	Definitions include: acronym for "kiss my teeth".
WHYD	Definitions include: acronym for "what have you done".
SYAU	Definitions include: acronym for "shut your ass up".
blog	Definitions include: a chronologically-ordered collection of articles, posted to the world-wide web, about any topic.
NIH syndrome	Definitions include: a "syndrome" involving a company's hesitance or refusal to use any idea or product it didn't invent or create.
vlog	Definitions include: video log, running series of short videos posted online.
(show 551 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?

gag for	Definitions include: to have a strong desire for.
divvy up	Definitions include: to separate something into multiple portions, usually for separate people.
lupper	Definitions include: a meal between lunch and supper.
have the onions	Definitions include: to be courageous or resourceful enough for the task or matter in hand.
fun bags	Definitions include: breasts.
player hate	Definitions include: to disapprove of the tactics of players.
clique	Definitions include: a group of friends.
*ss bag	Definitions include: a general insult.
toots	Definitions include: form of address for a female; "chick".
viral marketing	Definitions include: marketing based typically on word-of-mouth (including transmission via computer-based mediums, e.g. social networking.)