Definition: That high-pitched, digital squeak-screech sound signaling someone just logged onto AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). More potent than caffeine for Gen X/Millennials, it triggered frantic keyboard pounding and instant hope your crush/bestie/weird guy from math class was finally online. The Pavlov’s bell of the early internet.
Example: “Dude, I just heard the AIM door squeak in a meme and got phantom limb syndrome for my old Dell keyboard. My heart rate still jumps.” Context: Pre-social media dopamine hit. Soundtrack to dodging homework and crafting painfully elaborate away messages. If you heard it, your social life for the next 3 hours was secured (or doomed).