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Glitch

//ɡlɪt͡ʃ// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A problem affecting function. countable

    "They are still trying to work out all the glitches."

  2. 2
    a fault or defect in a computer program, system, or machine wordnet
  3. 3
    An unexpected behavior in an electrical signal, especially if the signal spontaneously returns to expected behavior after a period of time. countable, informal

    "Another term we adopted to describe some of our problems was "glitch." Literally, a glitch is a spike or change in voltage in an electrical circuit which takes place when the circuit suddenly has a new load put on it. You have probably noticed a dimming of lights in your home when you turn a switch or start the dryer or the television set."

  4. 4
    A bug or an exploit. countable, uncountable

    "Performing this glitch gives you extra lives."

  5. 5
    A genre of experimental electronic music since the 1990s, characterized by a deliberate use of sonic artifacts that would normally be viewed as unwanted noise. uncountable

    "You can hear this in the contemporary genre of ‘glitch’, where artists like Oval and Fennesz make radically beautiful music using the snaps, crackles and pops emitted by damaged CDs, malfunctioning software, etc."

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  1. 6
    A sudden increase in the rotational frequency of a pulsar. countable
Verb
  1. 1
    To experience an unexpected, typically intermittent malfunction. especially, intransitive

    "My computer keeps glitching; every couple of hours it just reboots without warning."

  2. 2
    To suffer a minor malfunction wordnet
  3. 3
    To perform an exploit or recreate a bug while playing a video game. intransitive

    "His character will glitch into the wall and out of the level."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Probably from Yiddish גליטש (glitsh), from German glitschig (“slippy”), from glitschen (“to slide, glide, slip”) + -ig (“-y”). Related to gleiten (“glide”). Cognate with French glisser (“to slip, slide, skid”). Popularized in the 1960s, by the US space program. Attested in 1962 by American astronaut John Glenn, in reference to spikes in electrical current.

Etymology 2

Probably from Yiddish גליטש (glitsh), from German glitschig (“slippy”), from glitschen (“to slide, glide, slip”) + -ig (“-y”). Related to gleiten (“glide”). Cognate with French glisser (“to slip, slide, skid”). Popularized in the 1960s, by the US space program. Attested in 1962 by American astronaut John Glenn, in reference to spikes in electrical current.

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