glitch

C2 Topic:Technology & Computing

US /ɡlɪt͡ʃ/ UK /ɡlɪt͡ʃ/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a small or temporary fault that prevents something from working as intended

A software glitch caused the screen to freeze for a few seconds.
2

noun
electronics: a brief, unintended change in a signal

The engineer found a glitch in the voltage trace.
3

noun
video games: an unintended behaviour or error in a game, sometimes used by players to gain an advantage

The speedrunner used a glitch to pass through the locked door.
4

noun
music: a style of electronic music that uses sounds associated with digital errors or damaged recordings

Her new album combines ambient melodies with the clicks and skips of glitch.
5

noun
astronomy: a sudden small increase in the rotation rate of a pulsar

The observatory detected a glitch in the pulsar's regular signal.

2 more meanings

6

verb
to develop a brief fault or behave unpredictably because of an error

The display began to glitch whenever the cable moved.
7

verb
video games: to trigger or exploit an unintended behaviour in a game

Players discovered how to glitch through the wall into an unfinished room.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Word family

Related forms bug malfunction

Simplified etymology

Glitch is of unknown origin. US electronic engineers used it in the 1960s for a sudden surge of electrical current, after which astronauts extended it to sudden equipment malfunctions; it later broadened to mean any hitch or snag.

Etymology

Probably from Yiddish glitsh, a slip; its earlier history is uncertain.

Topics

Technology & Computing

External links

# glitch

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ɡlɪt͡ʃ/
**IPA (UK):** /ɡlɪt͡ʃ/

## Meanings
1. a small or temporary fault that prevents something from working as intended
2. electronics: a brief, unintended change in a signal
3. video games: an unintended behaviour or error in a game, sometimes used by players to gain an advantage
4. music: a style of electronic music that uses sounds associated with digital errors or damaged recordings
5. astronomy: a sudden small increase in the rotation rate of a pulsar
6. to develop a brief fault or behave unpredictably because of an error
7. video games: to trigger or exploit an unintended behaviour in a game

## Examples
- A software glitch caused the screen to freeze for a few seconds.
- The engineer found a glitch in the voltage trace.
- The speedrunner used a glitch to pass through the locked door.
- Her new album combines ambient melodies with the clicks and skips of glitch.
- The observatory detected a glitch in the pulsar's regular signal.
- The display began to glitch whenever the cable moved.
- Players discovered how to glitch through the wall into an unfinished room.

## Related Forms
- bug
- malfunction

## Etymology
Probably from Yiddish glitsh, a slip; its earlier history is uncertain.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing

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