drop-in

[ drop-in ]

noun

1. Also Informal. a person who or thing that pays an unexpected or uninvited visit:

   a feeder for squirrels, raccoons, and other drop-ins.

2. Informal. a social gathering at which the guests are not expected to stay long:

   Be sure to stop by our house for a glass of eggnog at our Christmas drop-in.

adjective

1. provided for short-term patronage:

   a drop-in shelter for people who are moving through homelessness.

2. requiring only insertion to be ready for use:

   a drop-in battery pack.

drop in

verb

1. surfing to intrude on a wave that another surfer is already riding

Word History and Origins

Origin of drop-in¹

First recorded in 1810–20; noun and adjective use of verb phrase drop in

Example Sentences

Their drop-in rate starts at $39 for all classes using the Reformer.

From The Daily Beast

They'd just be occasionally a drop-in for a, say, a package of cigarettes or something like that.

From Project Gutenberg

My correspondence is fast going to rack and ruin, and I owe at least a dozen calls, the drop-in-in-the-evening kind.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• come by
• come over
• pop in
• turn up