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 pendant.
16. a descent by parachute.
17. an instance of dropping supplies by parachute or an amount of supplies so dropped.
18. something that drops or is used for dropping.
19. a group of persons dropped by parachute, as the personnel dropped by parachute during one military action.
20. Theater.
    1. drop curtain ( def ).
    2. drop scene ( def ).
21. trapdoor ( def ).
22. a gallows.
23. a slit or opening into which something can be dropped, as in a mailbox.
24. (in a casino) the income from the sale of chips.
25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.
28. a small flag, usually of enameled metal, that is a visual indicator in an annunciator or other device meant to signal or alert.
29. Furniture. an applied ornament resembling a pendant.
30. Architecture. gutta ( def 2 ).
31. Nautical. the vertical dimension amidships of any sail that is bent to a standing yard. Compare hoist ( def 6a ).
32. Also called drop panel. (in reinforced-concrete-slab construction) a thickened portion of the ceiling around a column head.
33. Horology. the free motion of an escape wheel between successive checks by the pallet.
34. 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 fall short of the required pace or progress:

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

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

      Sales have dropped off drastically.

3. 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.

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. See fruit drop
   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. See drop curtain
    theatre See drop curtain
13. See gallows, trap door
    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. See drop shot
    See drop shot
18. a drop in the bucket
    a drop in the bucketa drop in the ocean an amount very small in relation to what is needed or desired
19. at the drop of a hat
    at the drop of a hat without hesitation or delay
20. have had a drop too much
    have had a drop too much to be drunk
21. have the drop on someone
    have the drop on someone to have the advantage over someone

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
    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.
    drop dead! an exclamation of contempt

noun

1. rugby short for drop kick or drop-kick

Other Words From

• drop·like adjective
• un·dropped adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of drop¹

Old English dropian; related to Old High German triofan to drip

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

Example Sentences

What’s capping the upside, and threatening a drop, is the rampaging price that’s waxed three times as fast as profits.

From Fortune

Although the idea remains a long-shot in the vaccine race, an attenuated coronavirus could be formulated into inexpensive nose drops for use around the world.

From MIT Technology Review

The drop in labor participation from EU nationals suggests many workers went home during the pandemic, perhaps because of travel restrictions, Raja said.

From Quartz

If you notice a drop in traffic on Friday evening for a few hours, and your site is often in the Top Stories section in Google Search – this may be why.

From Search Engine Land

I think one estimate is that they’ll only be able to produce 50 million phones next year, so there’s a huge drop.

From Fortune

During an emergency that ratio could be allowed to drop to 8.5 people per orbit.

From The Daily Beast

But with the pipeline, transportation costs drop and production would be higher.

From The Daily Beast

Then, depending on how urgent I think it is to get it, sometimes I have to go back home and drop it off.

From The Daily Beast

Many times, victims drop out of school, while their alleged attackers graduate.

From The Daily Beast

A Change.org petition asking A&E to drop the show is already making the rounds online.

From The Daily Beast

Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"

From Project Gutenberg

At a quarter past seven he took his leave and we let drop our anchor where we were, off Cape Tekke.

From Project Gutenberg

Now and then he touched one with his long and sallow fingers, lifted its cover, then let it drop mechanically.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, on the palm a small drop of blood showed distinctly against the firm, pink flesh.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, on the Professor's right hand there showed a drop of blood, perceptibly larger this time than before.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cut
• decline
• deterioration
• dip
• downturn
• fall
• reduction
• slide
• slump
• tumble