pop

[ pop ]

/ pɒp /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pop ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), popped, pop·ping.

to make a short, quick, explosive sound: The cork popped.

to burst open with such a sound, as chestnuts or corn in roasting.

to come or go quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly: She popped into the kitchen to check the stove.

to shoot with a firearm: to pop at a mark.

to protrude from the sockets: The news made her eyes pop.

Baseball.

to hit a pop fly (often followed by up).
to pop out.

Informal. to be bright or prominent, especially as against something less distinctive: I love how the colors pop against the neutral walls.

verb (used with object), popped, pop·ping.

to cause to make a sudden, explosive sound.

to cause to burst open with such a sound.

to open suddenly or violently: to pop the hood on a car; to pop the tab on a beer can.

to put or thrust quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly: He popped the muffins into the oven.

Informal. to cause to fire; discharge: He popped his rifle at the bird.

to shoot (usually followed by at, off, etc.): He popped off bottles with a slingshot.

British Slang. to pawn.

Informal.

to take or swallow (pills), especially in excess or habitually; take orally in a compulsive or addictive way: Popping all those pills will land him in the hospital.
to eat in a continual or thoughtless manner, as snack foods: popping peanuts at the movies.

noun

a short, quick, explosive sound.

a popping.

a shot with a firearm.

Informal. soda pop.

a drink or portion of an alcoholic beverage, as a drink of whiskey or a glass of beer: We had a couple of pops on the way home.

Baseball. pop fly.

Informal. a bright or prominent burst of something: Citrus can add a pop of flavor.

adverb

with an explosive sound: The balloon went pop.

quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly: Pop, the door flew open!

adjective

Informal. unexpected; without prior warning or announcement: The teacher gave us a pop quiz.

Verb Phrases

pop for, Slang. to pay or buy for oneself or another, especially as a gift or treat; spring for: I'll pop for the first round of drinks.

pop off, Informal.

to die, especially suddenly.
to depart, especially abruptly.
to express oneself volubly or excitedly and sometimes irately or indiscreetly: He popped off about the injustice of the verdict.

pop out, Baseball. to be put out by hitting a pop fly caught on the fly by a player on the opposing team.

pop up, Baseball. to hit a pop fly.

RELATED WORDS

court, propose, woo

Nearby words

Idioms

a pop, Slang. each; apiece: five orchids at $30 a pop.

pop in, Informal. to visit briefly and unexpectedly; stop in; drop by: Maybe we'll pop in after the movie.

pop the question, Informal. to propose marriage: They dated for two years before he popped the question.

Origin of pop

1375–1425; late Middle English (noun) poppe a blow; (v.) poppen to strike; of expressive orig.

SYNONYMS FOR pop

3. appear, burst.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pop ON THESAURUS.COM

Regional variation note

19. See soda pop.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for pop the question

POP

abbreviation for

point of presence: a device that enables access to the internet

internet post office protocol: a protocol which brings e-mail to and from a mail server

Post Office Preferred (size of envelopes, etc)

persistent organic pollutant

pop

/ (pɒp) /

verb pops, popping or popped

to make or cause to make a light sharp explosive sound

to burst open or cause to burst open with such a sound

(intr; often foll by in, out, etc) informal to come (to) or go (from) rapidly or suddenly; to pay a brief or unexpected visit (to)

(intr) (esp of the eyes) to protrudeher eyes popped with amazement

to shoot or fire at (a target) with a firearm

(tr) to place or put with a sudden movementshe popped some tablets into her mouth

(tr) informal to pawnhe popped his watch yesterday

(tr) slang to take (a drug) in pill form or as an injectionpill popping

pop one's clogs See clog 1 (def. 9)

pop the question informal to propose marriage

noun

a light sharp explosive sound; crack

informal a flavoured nonalcoholic carbonated beverage

informal a try; attempthave a pop at goal

informal an instance of criticismTownsend has had a pop at modern bands

a pop informal each30 million shares at 7 dollars a pop

adverb

with a popping sound

interjection

an exclamation denoting a sharp explosive sound

Word Origin for pop

C14: of imitative origin

pop

/ (pɒp) /

noun

music of general appeal, esp among young people, that originated as a distinctive genre in the 1950s. It is generally characterized by a strong rhythmic element and the use of electrical amplification
(as modifier)pop music; a pop record; a pop group

informal a piece of popular or light classical music

adjective

informal short for popular

pop

/ (pɒp) /

noun

an informal word for father

informal a name used in addressing an old or middle-aged man

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

Word Origin and History for pop the question

pop

n.1

"a hit with an explosive sound," c.1400, of imitative origin. Meaning "flavored carbonated beverage" is from 1812.

A new manufactory of a nectar, between soda-water and ginger-beer, and called pop, because 'pop goes the cork' when it is drawn. [Southey, letter, 1812]

Sense of "ice cream on a stick" is from 1923 (see popsicle). Meaning "the (brief) time of a 'pop'" is from 1530s. Pop goes the weasel, a country dance, was popular 1850s in school yards, with organ grinders, at court balls, etc.

pop

adj.

"having popular appeal," 1926, of individual songs from many genres; 1954 as a noun, as genre of its own; abbreviation of popular; earlier as a shortened form of popular concert (1862), and often in the plural form pops. Pop art first recorded 1957, said to have been in use conversationally among Independent group of artists from late 1954. Pop culture attested from 1959, short for popular culture (attested by 1846).

pop

n.2

"father," 1838, chiefly American English, shortened from papa (1680s), from French papa, from Old French, a children's word, similar to Latin pappa. Form poppa is recorded from 1897.

pop

"cause to make a short, quick sound," mid-15c.; intransitive sense "make a short, quick sound" is from 1570s; imitative. Of eyes, "to protrude" (as if about to burst), from 1670s. Sense of "to appear or put suddenly" (often with up, off, in, etc.) is recorded from mid-15c. Baseball sense of "to hit a ball high in the air" is from 1867. To pop the question is from 1725, specific sense of "propose marriage" is from 1826. Related: Popped; popping.

Culture definitions for pop the question

pop the question

To “pop the question” is to propose marriage: “They have been going out for so long; I wonder when he'll pop the question.”

Idioms and Phrases with pop the question

pop the question

Propose marriage, as in He picked Valentine's Day to pop the question. [Early 1700s]

pop

verb (used without object), popped, pop·ping.

verb (used with object), popped, pop·ping.

noun

adverb

adjective

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of pop

Regional variation note

POP

abbreviation for

pop

verb pops, popping or popped

noun

adverb

interjection

Word Origin for pop

pop

noun

adjective

pop

noun

pop

pop

pop

pop

pop the question

pop the question