Drop

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: drŏp, IPA: /dɹɒp/
• GenAm enPR: drŏp, IPA: /dɹɑp/
• Rhymes: -É’p

Origin

From Old English dropa. The verb is from Old English dropian, from the noun.

Noun

1. A small mass of liquid just large enough to hold its own weight via surface tension, usually one that falls from a source of liquid.Put three drops of oil into the mixture.
2. The space or distance below a cliff or other high position into which someone or something could fall.On one side of the road was a 50-foot drop.
3. A fall, descent; an act of dropping.That was a long drop, but fortunately I didn't break any bones.
• 2012, John Branch, Snow Fall : The Avalanche at Tunnel CreekIt moved in surges, like a roller coaster on a series of drops and high-banked turns.
4. A place where items or supplies may be left for others to collect, sometimes associated with criminal activity; a drop-off point.I left the plans at the drop, like you asked.
5. An instance of dropping supplies or making a delivery, sometimes associated with delivery of supplies by parachute.The delivery driver has to make three more drops before lunch.
6. (chiefly British) a small amount of an alcoholic beverage; or when used with the definite article (the drop), alcoholic spirits in general.He usually enjoys a drop after dinner.It doesn't matter where you're from; anyone who enjoys the drop is a friend of mine.
7. (Ireland, informal) A single measure of whisky.
8. A small, round, sweet piece of hard candy, e.g. a lemon drop; a lozenge.
9. (American football) A dropped pass.Yet another drop for the Tiger tight end.
10. (American football) Short for drop-back or drop back.The Tiger quarterback took a one-step drop, expecting his tight end to be open.
11. In a woman, the difference between bust circumference and hip circumference; in a man, the difference between chest circumference and waist circumference.
12. (video games, online gaming) Any item dropped by defeated enemies.
13. (music) A point in a song, usually electronic styled music such as dubstep, house and trance, where everything is played at once, also known highlight, or climax.
• 2012, June 26, Genevieve Koski, Music: Reviews: Justin Bieber: Believe, But musical ancestry aside, the influence to which Bieber is most beholden is the current trends in pop music, which means Believe is loaded up with EDM accouterments, seeking a comfortable middle ground where Bieber’s impressively refined pop-R&B croon can rub up on techno blasts and garish dubstep drops (and occasionally grind on some AutoTune, not necessarily because it needs it, but because a certain amount of robo-voice is expected these days).
14. (US, banking, dated) an unsolicited credit card issue
15. The vertical length of a hanging curtain.
16. That which resembles or hangs like a liquid drop: a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a chandelier, etc.
17. (architecture) A gutta.
18. A mechanism for lowering something, such as: a trapdoor; a machine for lowering heavy weights onto a ship's deck; a device for temporarily lowering a gas jet; a curtain which falls in front of a theatrical stage; etc.
19. A drop press or drop hammer.
20. (engineering) The distance of the axis of a shaft below the base of a hanger.
21. (nautical) The depth of a square sail; generally applied to the courses only.

Derived terms

• dropless
• droplike
• raindrop

Full definition of drop

Verb

1. (intransitive) To fall in droplets (of a liquid). from 11th c.
• SpenserThe kindly dew drops from the higher tree,
  And wets the little plants that lowly dwell.
2. (transitive) To drip (a liquid). form 14th c.
• CreechThe trees drop balsam.
• SterneThe recording angel, as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word and blotted it out forever.
3. (intransitive) Generally, to fall (straight down). from 14th c.
   A single shot was fired and the bird dropped from the sky.
4. (transitive, ergative) To let fall; to allow to fall (either by releasing hold of, or losing one's grip on). from 14th c.
   Don't drop that plate!   The police ordered the men to drop their weapons.
5. (intransitive) To sink quickly to the ground. from 15th c.
   Drop and give me thirty push-ups, private!   If your clothes are on fire, stop, drop and roll.
6. (intransitive) To come to an end (by not being kept up); to stop. from 17th c.
• 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:Maisie's faith in Mrs. Wix for instance had suffered no lapse from the fact that all communication with her had temporarily dropped.
7. (transitive) To mention casually or incidentally, usually in conversation. from 17th c.
   The moderator would drop hints whenever the students struggled.   She would sometimes drop off to sleep straight after dinner.
8. (transitive, slang) To part with or spend (money). from 17th c.
• 1949, The Atlantian, v 8, Atlanta: United States Penitentiary, p 41:The question was: Who put the most in the collection box? The wealthy guy, who dropped a “C” note, or the tattered old dame who parted with her last tarnished penny.
• 2000, Lisa Reardon, Blameless: A Novel, Random House, p 221:I forked over the $19.25. I was in no position to be dropping twenties like gumdrops but I deserved something good from this crappy morning.
9. (transitive) To cease concerning oneself over; to have nothing more to do with (a subject, discussion etc.). from 17th c.
   I'm tired of this subject. Will you just drop it?
• S. SharpThey suddenly drop't the pursuit.
• Thackeraythat astonishing ease with which fine ladies drop you and pick you up again
• Sir Walter ScottThe connection had been dropped many years.
10. (intransitive) To lessen, decrease, or diminish in value, condition, degree, etc. from 18th c.
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 17, This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.
11. The stock dropped 1.5% yesterday.   We can take our vacation when the price of fuel drops.   Watch for the temperature to drop sharply, then you'll know the reaction is complete.
12. (transitive) To let (a letter etc.) fall into a postbox; to send (a letter or message). from 18th c.
    Drop me a note when you get to the city.
13. (transitive) To make (someone or something) fall to the ground from a blow, gunshot etc.; to bring down, to shoot down. from 18th c.
• 1846, ed. by G. W. Nickisson, “Elephant-Shooting in Ceylon”, in Fraser's Magazine, vol. XXXIII, no. CXCVIIpage 562: ...if the first shot does not drop him, and he rushes on, the second will be a very hurried and most likely ineffectual one...page 568 ...with a single shot he dropped him like a master of the art.
• 1892, Alexander A. A. Kinloch, Large Game Shooting in Thibet, the Himalayas, Northern and Central India, page 126As with all other animals, a shot behind the shoulder is the most likely to drop the beast on the spot...
• 1921, Daniel Henderson, Boone of the Wilderness, page 54He dropped the beast with a bullet in its heart.
• 1985, Beastie Boys, Paul Revere (song):The piano player's out, the music stopped
  His boy had beef, and he got dropped...
• 1992, Dan Parkinson, Dust on the Wind, page 164With a quick clench of the fist on Joey's throat, Bodie dropped him. The man crumpled to the ground...
14. Make any sudden movements and I will drop you!
15. (transitive, linguistics) To fail to write, or (especially) to pronounce (a syllable, letter etc.). from 19th c.
    Cockneys drop their aitches.
16. (cricket, of a fielder) To fail to make a catch from a batted ball that would have lead to the batsman being out.
    Warne dropped Tendulkar on 99. Tendulkar went on to get a century next ball
17. (transitive, slang) To swallow (a drug), particularly LSD. from 20th c.
    They had never dropped acid.
18. (transitive) to dispose (of); get rid of; to remove; to lose
    I dropped ten pounds and an obnoxious fiancée.
19. (transitive) to eject; to dismiss; to cease to include, as if on a list.
    I've been dropped from the football team.
20. (transitive, slang) To impart.
    I drop knowledge wherever I go.   Yo, I drop rhymes like nobody's business.
21. (transitive, music, African American Vernacular English) To release to the public.
    They dropped "Hip-Hop Xmas" in time for the holidays.
22. (transitive, music) To play a portion of music in the manner of a disc jockey.
    That guy can drop the bass like a monster.   I love it when he drops his funky beats.
23. (intransitive, music, African American Vernacular English) To enter public distribution.
    "Hip-Hop Xmas" dropped in time for the holidays.
24. (transitive) To cancel or end a scheduled event, project or course
    I had to drop calculus because it was taking up too much of my time and I couldn't go anymore.
25. (transitive, fast food) To cook, especially by deep-frying or grilling.
    Drop a basket of fries.
26. (intransitive, of a voice) To lower in timbre, often relating to puberty.
• 2012, June 26, Genevieve Koski, Music: Reviews: Justin Bieber: Believe, The 18-year-old Bieber can’t quite pull off the “adult” thing just yet: His voice may have dropped a bit since the days of “Baby,” but it still mostly registers as “angelic,” and veers toward a pubescent whine at times.
27. Billy's voice dropped suddenly when he turned 12.
28. (intransitive, of a sound or song) To lower in pitch, tempo, key, or other quality.
    The song, 180 beats per minute, drops to 150 BPM near the end.   My synthesizer makes the notes sound funny when they drop below C2.
29. (intransitive, of people) To visit informally; used with in or by.
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 1, He used to drop into my chambers once in a while to smoke, and was first-rate company. When I gave a dinner there was generally a cover laid for him. I liked the man for his own sake, and even had he promised to turn out a celebrity it would have had no weight with me.
30. drop by soon;   drop in on her tomorrow
31. To give birth to.to drop a lamb
32. To cover with drops; to variegate; to bedrop.
• Miltontheir waved coats dropped with gold
33. (slang, of the testicles) To hang lower and begin producing sperm due to puberty.

Derived terms

Anagrams

• dorp
• prod, Prod