glitch

[glich] /glɪtʃ/
noun
1.
a defect or malfunction in a machine or plan.
2.
Computers. any error, malfunction, or problem.
Compare bug1 (def 5).
3.
a brief or sudden interruption or surge in voltage in an electric circuit.
verb (used with object)
4.
to cause a glitch in:
an accident that glitched our plans.
Origin
1960-65; perhaps < Yiddish glitsh slippery area; compare glitshn, German glitschen to slip, slide
Examples from the web for glitch
  • Service was nearly flawless, the only glitch being a busboy who failed to bring more butter when additional rolls were offered.
  • The glitch cascaded, preventing air traffic control computers nationwide from communicating.
  • The so-called glitch occurred five times for each student.
  • And it withstands subzero temperatures without a glitch.
  • If that's the case, the courts may not look kindly on the omission, and that glitch could turn into a nightmare.
  • Please tell me that this is some sort of unholy glitch and not a change in policy.
  • Defibrillators were twice as likely to suffer a glitch.
  • Indeed, this may be the first buoy in history that had its launch delayed by a software glitch.
  • Later, a mechanical glitch keeps the adrenaline flowing.
  • There is a glitch, and the message goes to her dean or chair, who didn't know she was applying for jobs.
British Dictionary definitions for glitch

glitch

/ɡlɪtʃ/
noun
1.
a sudden instance of malfunctioning or irregularity in an electronic system
2.
a change in the rotation rate of a pulsar
Word Origin
C20: of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for glitch
n.

1962, American English, possibly from Yiddish glitsh "a slip," from glitshn "to slip," from German glitschen, and related gleiten "to glide" (see glide). Perhaps directly from German; it began as technical jargon in the argot of electronic hardware engineers, popularized and given a broader meaning by U.S. space program.

Slang definitions & phrases for glitch

glitch

noun
  1. An operating defect; malfunction; a disabling minor problem: despite such ''glitches'' (a spaceman's word for irritating disturbances)/ Most had assured themselves that the trouble signal was only a ''glitch'' (1962+ Aerospace)
  2. A sudden interruption of electrical supply, program function, etc: The term ''bug'' to refer to a computer glitch (1980s+ Computer)

[fr German glitschen (or Yiddish glitshen), ''slip'']


glitch in Technology

/glich/ [German "glitschen" to slip, via Yiddish "glitshen", to slide or skid] 1. (Electronics) When the inputs of a circuit change, and the outputs change to some random value for some very brief time before they settle down to the correct value. If another circuit inspects the output at just the wrong time, reading the random value, the results can be very wrong and very hard to debug (a glitch is one of many causes of electronic heisenbugs).
2. A sudden interruption in electric service, sanity, continuity, or program function. Sometimes recoverable. An interruption in electric service is specifically called a "power glitch" (or power hit), of grave concern because it usually crashes all the computers. See also gritch.
2. [Stanford] To scroll a display screen, especially several lines at a time. WAITS terminals used to do this in order to avoid continuous scrolling, which is distracting to the eye.
4. Obsolete. Same as magic cookie.
[Jargon File]