glitch
/ɡlɪtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡlɪtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈglich/ (ame, mw)
glitch — noun
- glitchsingular
- glitchesplural
1. a small, usually temporary fault or problem in a machine, system, or process tha
a small, usually temporary fault or problem in a machine, system, or process that stops it from working the way it should. It often happens with computers, software, websites, or electronic devices.
Aoi noticed a glitch in the booking system and called the help desk.
collocation: glitch in [system]
The website had a glitch that stopped new users from creating accounts for several hours.
Samir fixed a small glitch in the spreadsheet formula before the quarterly meeting.
A minor software glitch caused the payment system to process the same order twice.
Noor reported a glitch in the mobile app after downloading the latest update.
- bug
specific to software; implies a programming error, not just a temporary fault
- fault
broader term; can refer to permanent or serious problems in any system
- snag
informal; a small problem that delays a process or plan, not necessarily technical
- hiccup
informal; a very brief, minor problem that passes quickly
文法句型
a glitch + in + noun phrase
adjective + glitch
用法筆記
Often used for temporary electronic or software problems rather than permanent hardware damage. You can also use 'glitch' more broadly for any small, short-lived problem in a plan or process.
常見錯誤
2. a short, unexpected rise in the supply of electricity that can make electronic e
a short, unexpected rise in the supply of electricity that can make electronic equipment behave incorrectly or stop working
A power glitch shut down the server room for almost twenty minutes.
power glitch + affects equipment
Chiara's computer restarted suddenly after an electrical glitch in the building wiring.
The factory lost an hour of production because of a glitch in the main power supply.
Soraya installed a surge protector to guard against electrical glitches in the old building.
- brownout
a drop in voltage, not a rise
文法句型
a power/electrical glitch
glitch + in + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is more technical than sense 1. It is common in engineering and electronics contexts but less frequent in everyday conversation. A power glitch can damage sensitive equipment if no surge protector is used.
常見錯誤
glitch — verb
- glitchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- glitches3rd person singular
- glitching-ing form
- glitchedpast simple
1. to have a temporary fault or stop working properly for a short time, especially
to have a temporary fault or stop working properly for a short time, especially when referring to electronic equipment, computers, or software
My phone glitched during the video call and I had to restart it.
Dario's game console glitched halfway through the final level and lost all his progress.
console glitches + loses [data]
The screen glitched and showed strange colours for several seconds before going black.
Evelyn's laptop glitched while she was editing the presentation for the client meeting.
The printer glitched halfway through and printed pages of random symbols instead of the document.
- freeze
more specific; means the screen or system stops responding completely
- crash
more serious; the program or system shuts down entirely
- malfunction
more formal; can apply to any kind of equipment failure
文法句型
subject + glitch(es)
subject + glitch(ed) + out
用法筆記
This verb is always intransitive — you do not 'glitch something'. In informal spoken English, 'glitch out' is common: 'The app glitched out and I lost my work.' The past form is 'glitched' (regular).