1. a small electronic device that receives and displays messages or alerts, typically worn on a belt or pocket
Usage: dated; largely superseded by mobile phones and smartphones
2. a device that produces a bleeping sound as a signal or alert
Usage: informal

Examples

• Doctors used to carry bleepers to receive urgent messages from the hospital.
• The microwave bleeper went off when the timer finished.
• Before cell phones became common, bleepers were essential for on-call professionals.
• The smoke detector's bleeper alerted us to a low battery.
• She clipped her bleeper to her waistband during her shift at the clinic.