In a recipe, what does "to whip" mean?

In the context of cooking and baking, "to whip" involves beating ingredients vigorously to incorporate air, which is essential for achieving a light and airy texture in mixtures such as whipped cream or egg whites. This process typically uses a whisk, mixer, or other tools designed to agitate the ingredients rapidly. Introducing air helps create volume and can affect the final texture of various dishes, making it a critical technique in many recipes. By contrast, mixing ingredients slowly, folding them gently, or boiling them before mixing do not achieve the same aeration effect and would not fulfil the purpose of whipping.