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View synonyms for drop

drop

[ drop ]

noun

  1. a small quantity of liquid that falls or is produced in a more or less spherical mass; a liquid globule:

    The steam condensed and formed drops of water on the window.

  2. the quantity contained in a globule or bead of liquid that forms or falls:

    The instructions say to place two drops of iodine on the piece of potato.

  3. a very small quantity of liquid compared to a standard or typical portion:

    I'll have a little more tea, just a drop.

  4. a minute quantity of anything:

    not even a drop of mercy.

  5. Usually drops.
    1. liquid medicine given in a dose or form of globules from a medicine dropper.
    2. a solution for dilating the pupils of the eyes, administered to the eyes in globules by a medicine dropper.
  6. a limited amount of an alcoholic beverage:

    He occasionally takes a drop after dinner.

  7. an act or instance of dropping; fall; descent.
  8. the distance or depth to which anything drops:

    a ten-foot drop to the ground.

  9. a steep slope:

    a short drop to the lake.

  10. a decline in amount, degree, quality, value, etc.:

    a drop in prices.

  11. a small, usually spherical, piece of candy; lozenge:

    a lemon drop.

  12. a central depository where items are left or transmitted:

    a mail drop.

  13. a predesignated place where secret letters or packages can be left to be picked up by another person without attracting attention, as in espionage or drug dealing.
  14. something resembling or likened to a liquid globule, as certain ornaments, a spherical earring, etc.
  15. a descent by parachute.
  16. an instance of dropping supplies by parachute or an amount of supplies so dropped.
  17. something that drops or is used for dropping.
  18. a group of persons dropped by parachute, as the personnel dropped by parachute during one military action.
  19. Theater.
  20. a slit or opening into which something can be dropped, as in a mailbox.
  21. (in a casino) the income from the sale of chips.
  22. Informal. music, software, sneakers, or other highly anticipated consumer products newly released to the public, or the release itself of such an item: We don’t know for certain why the drop was postponed.

    Her latest music video drop created a lot of buzz.

    We don’t know for certain why the drop was postponed.

  23. Also called dropped item. (in a video game) an item acquired by a player character from a defeated nonplayer character:

    The mobs in this zone have pretty mediocre drops.

  24. Informal. (in EDM and other dance music)
    1. Also called beat drop. a point of release in a song when, after a buildup of tension during which pitch and pace increase and the bass diminishes or disappears, the bass beat resumes.
    2. a climactic section of a song which begins with the resumption of the bass beat after a buildup section during which the bass has receded or diminished.
  25. a small flag, usually of enameled metal, that is a visual indicator in an annunciator or other device meant to signal or alert.
  26. Furniture. an applied ornament resembling a pendant.
  27. Architecture. gutta ( def 2 ).
  28. Nautical. the vertical dimension amidships of any sail that is bent to a standing yard. Compare hoist ( def 6a ).
  29. Also called drop panel. (in reinforced-concrete-slab construction) a thickened portion of the ceiling around a column head.
  30. Horology. the free motion of an escape wheel between successive checks by the pallet.
  31. the newborn young of an animal.


verb (used without object)

, dropped or (Archaic) dropt, drop·ping.
  1. to fall in globules or small portions, as water or other liquid:

    Rain drops from the clouds.

  2. to fall vertically; have an abrupt descent.
  3. to sink or fall to the ground, floor, or bottom as if inanimate.
  4. to fall lower in condition, degree, value, etc.; diminish or lessen; sink:

    The prices dropped sharply.

  5. to come to an end; cease; lapse:

    There the matter dropped.

  6. to fall or move to a position that is lower, farther back, inferior, etc.:

    to drop back in line;

    to drop to the rear.

  7. to withdraw; quit (often followed by out or from ):

    to drop out of a race;

    to drop from a game.

  8. to pass or enter without effort into some condition, activity, or the like: to drop into a habit.

    to drop into sleep;

    to drop into a habit.

  9. to make an unexpected or unannounced stop at a place; pay an informal visit or call (usually followed by in, by, or over ):

    Since we're in the neighborhood, why don't we drop in at my brother's?

  10. to cease to appear or be seen; vanish:

    to drop from sight or notice.

  11. to fall wounded, dead, etc.:

    A thousand men dropped in the battle.

  12. to squat or crouch, as a dog at the sight of game.
  13. to move gently, as carried by the tide or a light wind (usually followed by down ).
  14. Informal. (of consumer products) to be released to the public, sometimes at an announced time or as a limited edition to stoke interest; launch: New patterns and designs drop every six weeks, ensuring their bamboo baby clothes remain a hot ticket.

    When the app dropped, I decided to give it a test run.

    New patterns and designs drop every six weeks, ensuring their bamboo baby clothes remain a hot ticket.

verb (used with object)

, dropped or (Archaic) dropt, drop·ping.
  1. to let fall in drops or small portions:

    to drop lemon juice into tea.

  2. to let or cause to fall.
  3. to cause or allow to sink to a lower position.
  4. to cause to decrease in value, amount, quality, etc.; reduce.
  5. to utter or express casually or incidentally:

    to drop a hint.

  6. to write and send:

    Drop me a note.

  7. to bring to the ground by a blow or shot.
  8. to set down or unload, as from a ship, car, etc. (often followed by off ):

    Drop me at the corner.

  9. to omit (a letter or syllable) in pronunciation or writing:

    He dropped his h's.

  10. to lower (the voice) in pitch or loudness.
  11. to cease to keep up or have to do with:

    I dropped the subject.

    Will you drop your old friends if you win the lottery?

  12. to cease to employ, admit as a member, or include, as on a list; dismiss:

    to drop an employee from the payroll;

    to drop three members of the club who have not paid their dues.

  13. to withdraw or cease to pursue:

    The police dropped the charges against the suspect.

  14. Sports.
    1. to throw, shoot, hit, kick, or roll (a ball, puck, etc.) through or into a basket, hole, or other goal:

      He dropped the ball through the basket for two points.

    2. to lose (a game or contest):

      They dropped two games in a row and were eliminated from the tournament.

  15. Football.
    1. to drop-kick (a ball).
    2. to score with a drop kick.
  16. (of animals) to give birth to:

    The cat dropped a litter of six kittens.

  17. to parachute (persons, supplies, etc.):

    The Marines dropped 300 combat troops into the jungle battlefield.

  18. to lengthen by lowering or letting out:

    to drop the hem of a skirt.

  19. to lower (the wheels) into position for landing an airplane.
  20. Informal. to release (music, software, sneakers, etc.) to the public; launch:

    She dropped her second album in October.

  21. Informal. to spend or lose (money) in an extravagant or wasteful way:

    He thought nothing of dropping $100 on a tie.

  22. Slang. to take (especially an illicit drug) by swallowing; ingest:

    Did you know that your uncle dropped acid in college?

  23. Nautical. to pass out of sight of; outdistance.
  24. Cooking. to poach (an egg).

verb phrase

    1. to withdraw from being a member or participant:

      to drop out of a club;

      to drop out of society and become a wanderer.

    2. to stop attending school or college.
  1. to fall short of the required pace or progress:

    Her long illness caused her to drop behind the rest of the class.

    1. to fall asleep.
    2. to decrease; decline:

      Sales have dropped off drastically.

drop

/ drɒp /

noun

  1. a small quantity of liquid that forms or falls in a spherical or pear-shaped mass; globule
  2. a very small quantity of liquid
  3. a very small quantity of anything
  4. something resembling a drop in shape or size, such as a decorative pendant or small sweet
  5. the act or an instance of falling; descent
  6. a decrease in amount or value; slump

    a drop in prices

  7. the vertical distance that anything may fall
  8. a steep or sheer incline or slope
  9. short for fruit drop
  10. the act of unloading troops, equipment, or supplies by parachute
  11. (in cable television) a short spur from a trunk cable that feeds signals to an individual house
  12. theatre See drop curtain
  13. another word for trap door gallows
  14. a slot or aperture through which an object can be dropped to fall into a receptacle
  15. nautical the midships height of a sail bent to a fixed yard Compare hoist
  16. slang.
    cricket a fall of the wicket

    he came in at first drop

  17. a drop in the bucket or a drop in the ocean
    an amount very small in relation to what is needed or desired
  18. at the drop of a hat
    without hesitation or delay
  19. have had a drop too much
    to be drunk
  20. have the drop on someone
    to have the advantage over someone
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (of liquids) to fall or allow to fall in globules
  2. to fall or allow to fall vertically
  3. tr to allow to fall by letting go of
  4. to sink or fall or cause to sink or fall to the ground, as from a blow, wound, shot, weariness, etc
  5. intr; foll by back, behind, etc to fall, move, or go in a specified manner, direction, etc
  6. informal.
    intr; foll by in, by, etc to pay a casual visit (to)
  7. to decrease or cause to decrease in amount or value

    the cost of living never drops

  8. to sink or cause to sink to a lower position, as on a scale
  9. to make or become less in strength, volume, etc
  10. intr to sink or decline in health or condition
  11. intrsometimes foll byinto to pass easily into a state or condition

    to drop into a habit

  12. intr to move along gently as with a current of water or air
  13. tr to allow to pass casually in conversation

    to drop a hint

  14. tr to leave out (a word or letter)
  15. tr to set down or unload (passengers or goods)
  16. tr to send or post

    drop me a line/text/email

  17. tr to discontinue; terminate

    let's drop the matter

  18. tr to cease to associate or have to do with
  19. slang.
    tr to cease to employ

    he was dropped from his job

  20. informal.
    tr; sometimes foll by in, off, etc to leave or deposit, esp at a specified place
  21. (of animals) to give birth to (offspring)
  22. slang.
    to lose (money), esp when gambling
  23. tr to lengthen (a hem, etc)
  24. tr to unload (troops, equipment, or supplies) by parachute
  25. tr nautical to leave behind; sail out of sight of
  26. tr sport to omit (a player) from a team
  27. tr to lose (a score, game, or contest)

    the champion dropped his first service game

  28. tr sport to hit or throw (a ball) into a goal

    he dropped a 30 foot putt

  29. tr to hit (a ball) with a drop shot
  30. drop astern
    nautical to fall back to the stern (of another vessel)
  31. slang.
    tr motor racing to spin (the car) and (usually) crash out of the race
  32. slang.
    tr to swallow (a drug, esp a barbiturate or LSD)
  33. drop dead! slang.
    an exclamation of contempt
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. rugby short for drop kick or drop-kick
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • drop·like adjective
  • un·dropped adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of drop1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun drop(e) “drop of liquid,” Old English dropa; the verb is derived from the noun; akin to drip, droop
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Word History and Origins

Origin of drop1

Old English dropian; related to Old High German triofan to drip
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. at the drop of a hat, at the slightest provocation or without delay:

    He's ready to fight at the drop of a hat.

  2. drop dead, (used as an expression of contempt, disgust, impatience, etc.):

    If that's the way you feel about it, drop dead!

  3. get / have the drop on,
    1. to aim and be ready to shoot a gun at an antagonist before the other person's gun can be drawn.
    2. to get or have at a disadvantage.
  4. drop in the bucket. bucket ( def 13 ).

More idioms and phrases containing drop

  • at the drop of a hat
  • bottom drops out of
  • get the drop on
  • hear a pin drop
  • let drop
  • wait for the other shoe to drop
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Example Sentences

It says Christmas and New Year is always a challenging period, as donations drop.

From BBC

The trailer has dropped for a new Netflix documentary that examines how the defamation trial involving Amber Heard and Johnny Deep became a global fixation.

Dating apps, a common way to meet a partner, have seen a significant drop in user numbers this year, says communications regulator Ofcom.

From BBC

When it was time for me to finally depart, she dropped me off at Los Angeles International Airport, and as I watched her disappear into the traffic, I felt part of myself disappearing too.

It marked a strong rebound from October, when jobs growth dropped sharply amid disruption from major storms and labour strikes.

From BBC

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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.

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