dope
Americannoun
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any thick liquid or pasty preparation, as a lubricant, used in preparing a surface.
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an absorbent material used to absorb and hold a liquid, as in the manufacture of dynamite.
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Aeronautics.
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any of various varnishlike products for coating a fabric, as of airplane wings, in order to make it waterproof, stronger, etc.
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a similar product used to coat the fabric of a balloon to reduce gas leakage.
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Slang.
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any narcotic or narcoticlike drug taken to induce euphoria or satisfy addiction.
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any illicit drug.
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a drug, as a steroid, given to an athlete to boost athletic performance.
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a narcotic or other drug given surreptitiously to a horse to improve or retard its performance in a race.
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Slang. information, data, or news.
What's the latest dope on the strike?
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Informal. a stupid or unresponsive person.
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Southern U.S. (chiefly South Atlantic States). a carbonated, flavored, and sweetened drink, especially cola-flavored; soda pop.
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North Central U.S. (chiefly Ohio). syrup used as a topping for ice cream.
verb (used with object)
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Slang.
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to affect with dope or drugs (usually followed by up orout ).
I was so doped up that I couldn't remember a thing.
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to add a narcotic or other drug to.
My brother doped my food as a prank.
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to give a drug to (an athlete or horse), so as to affect performance in a race or other competition.
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to apply or treat with dope.
In the winter, we doped the fabric of the airplanes in the hangar.
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Electronics. to add or treat (a pure semiconductor) with a dopant.
verb (used without object)
adjective
verb phrase
noun
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any of a number of preparations made by dissolving cellulose derivatives in a volatile solvent, applied to fabric in order to improve strength, tautness, etc
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an additive used to improve the properties of something, such as an antiknock compound added to petrol
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a thick liquid, such as a lubricant, applied to a surface
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a combustible absorbent material, such as sawdust or wood pulp, used to hold the nitroglycerine in dynamite
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slang
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any illegal drug, usually cannabis
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( as modifier )
a dope fiend
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a drug administered to a racehorse or greyhound to affect its performance
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informal a person considered to be stupid or slow-witted
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informal news or facts, esp confidential information
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informal a photographic developing solution
verb
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electronics to add impurities to (a semiconductor) in order to produce or modify its properties
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to apply or add a dopant to
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to administer a drug to (oneself or another)
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(intr) to take dope
adjective
Usage
What else does dope mean? A dope can be a fool, a slang term for "excellent," or refer to drugs like marijuana. Doping is using performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
Regionalisms
See soda pop.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dope
First recorded in 1840–50; from Dutch doop (dialect) “sauce,” derivative of dopen “to dip, baptize”; cf. deep ( def. ), dip 1
Vocabulary lists containing dope
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Besides stand-up, Robinson also was the co-creator and co-star of the podcast turned HBO series “2 Dope Queens” with Jessica Williams alongside other podcasts including “Sooo Many White Guys” and “Black Frasier.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2025
Though Organized Noize rarely relied on heavy sampling, “Two Dope Boyz” loops the evocative, nighttime croon of the Chicago soul group Five Stairsteps, setting the tone for the psychedelic space-noir of Outkast’s second album, “ATLiens.”
From New York Times • Apr. 15, 2024
Buteau, a popular comedian is most known for a collection of TV roles including "Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens," "Rick and Morty," "2 Dope Queens" and "Russian Doll."
From Salon • Jul. 16, 2023
Not just a regular dope, but a special one who should be on display in the Dope Museum.
From Washington Times • Jan. 2, 2023
Just like Hope the Dope, my sister says back.
From "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.