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  • pop-up
    pop-up
    adjective
    (of books, usually children's books) having pieces of artwork fastened to the pages so that when the page is opened, a three-dimensional cutout or object is formed and, sometimes, movement of a picture element, such as a door opening, can be activated by pulling a tab.
  • pop up
    pop up
    Suddenly appear, as in After a brief warm spell all the flowers popped up, or He's constantly popping up where he's least expected.
Synonyms

pop-up

American  
[pop-uhp] / ˈpɒpˌʌp /
Or popup

adjective

  1. (of books, usually children's books) having pieces of artwork fastened to the pages so that when the page is opened, a three-dimensional cutout or object is formed and, sometimes, movement of a picture element, such as a door opening, can be activated by pulling a tab.

  2. of or being a device that ejects or raises a finished or used item from the top.

    a pop-up toaster.

  3. of or relating to a device, mechanism, or object that rises or pivots from a concealed or recessed position to its operating position.

    a camera with a pop-up electronic flash; a car with pop-up headlights.

  4. popping up, as from an appliance or object.

    pop-up waffles heated in the toaster; a pop-up gauge for indicating when the turkey is done.

  5. noting or pertaining to a store, restaurant, etc., that temporarily takes over a vacant space and does business there for a short time.

    a pop-up store selling Halloween costumes.

  6. Digital Technology. (of a new window or its content) appearing suddenly and temporarily within or in front of an open window on the screen of a computer or mobile device.

    Right-click to get a pop-up menu. There are tools to block pop-up ads.


noun

  1. a pop-up book.

  2. Also called pop-out.  Also called popout.  something, as a partially cut out or spring-mounted illustration in a children's book, that unfolds or springs up when opened or otherwise activated.

    a Christmas card with a pop-up of Santa Claus.

  3. Baseball. pop fly.

  4. a pop-up store, restaurant, etc.

  5. Digital Technology. a pop-up window, message, advertisement, etc..

    Press the hotkey and the pop-up will appear.

pop-up British  

adjective

  1. (of an appliance) characterized by or having a mechanism that pops up

    a pop-up toaster

  2. (of a book) having pages that rise when opened to simulate a three-dimensional form

  3. computing (of a menu on a computer screen, etc) suddenly appearing when an option is selected

  4. (of a shop, restaurant, venue, or other small business) intentionally opening and closing for business within a very short span of time

    a pop-up shop

"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. (intr, adverb) to appear suddenly from below

"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. computing something that appears over or above the open window on a computer screen

"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
pop up Idioms  
  1. Suddenly appear, as in After a brief warm spell all the flowers popped up, or He's constantly popping up where he's least expected.


Etymology

Origin of pop-up

First recorded in 1860–65 pop-up for def. 9; noun, adjective use of verb phrase pop up

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.

Pop-up performances in Times Square aren’t quite the spontaneous events the term suggests.

From New York Times • Mar. 29, 2024

Pop-up public loos were introduced in central London in 2002 to discourage street urination.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2024

Pop-up canopies cast rare pockets of shade on pavement scorched by summer heat.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2023

Pop-up stands distributing army brochures proclaiming “Contract service is a worthy future” have appeared in Moscow, Perm, Yekaterinburg and other cities, along with street banners publicizing the contact information for local enlistment offices.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2023

Pop-up transcriber’s notes at specific points can also be seen by hovering the mouse over text underlined in red, like this.

From A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity. by Wilberforce, William

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