pop

¹ American  

[pop] / pɒp /

verb (used without object)

popped, popping

1. to make a short, quick, explosive sound.

   The cork popped.

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

3. to come or go quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly.

   She popped into the kitchen to check the stove.

   Synonyms:

   burst, appear

4. to protrude from the sockets.

   The news made her eyes pop.

5. Baseball.

   1. to hit a pop fly (often followed byup ).

   2. to pop out.

6. Informal. to be bright or prominent, especially as against something less distinctive.

   I love how the colors pop against the neutral walls.

7. to shoot with a firearm.

   to pop at a mark.

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verb (used with object)

popped, popping

1. to cause to make a sudden, explosive sound.

2. to cause to burst open with such a sound.

3. to open suddenly or violently.

   to pop the hood on a car; to pop the tab on a beer can.

4. to put or thrust quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly.

   He popped the muffins into the oven.

5. Informal. to cause to fire; discharge.

   He popped his rifle at the bird.

6. to shoot (usually followed by at, off, etc.).

   He popped off bottles with a slingshot.

7. British Slang. to pawn.

8. Informal.

   1. 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.

   2. to eat in a continual or thoughtless manner, as snack foods.

      popping peanuts at the movies.

noun

1. a short, quick, explosive sound.

2. a popping.

3. a shot with a firearm.

4. Informal. soda pop.

5. 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.

6. Baseball. pop fly.

7. Informal. a bright or prominent burst of something.

   Citrus can add a pop of flavor.

adverb

1. with an explosive sound.

   The balloon went pop.

2. quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly.

   Pop, the door flew open!

adjective

1. Informal. unexpected; without prior warning or announcement.

   The teacher gave us a pop quiz.

verb phrase

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

2. pop in. pop-in.

3. pop for 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.

4. pop up to hit a pop fly.

5. pop off

   1. to die, especially suddenly.

   2. to depart, especially abruptly.

   3. to express oneself volubly or excitedly and sometimes irately or indiscreetly.

      He popped off about the injustice of the verdict.

idioms

1. a pop, each; apiece.

   five orchids at $30 a pop.

2. pop the question, to propose marriage.

   They dated for two years before he popped the question.

pop ² American  

[pop] / pɒp /

adjective

1. of or relating to songs that are produced for and popular with mass audiences.

   She studied classical music in school, but found a career writing pop songs.

2. being or relating to a broad genre of music characterized by being highly accessible and commercial, frequently changing sound according to what musical styles are trendy, and often having repetitive lyrics and simple rhythms that are easy to dance to.

   She was originally a country singer, but her music has gradually swung toward a more pop sound.

3. of or relating to pop art.

4. reflecting or aimed at the tastes of the general public.

   pop culture;

   pop novels;

   pop psychology.

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noun

1. music that is produced for and popular with mass audiences.

   It's the first time she's sung pop, as she usually performs opera.

2. a broad genre of music characterized by being highly accessible and commercial, frequently changing sound according to what musical styles are trendy, and often having repetitive lyrics and simple rhythms that are easy to dance to (often used in combination).

   The album's instrumentation mixes the sounds of soul, R&B, and pop.

   Here's our list of the top pop rock albums of the year.

3. pop art.

pop ³ American  

[pop] / pɒp /

Also pops

noun

Informal.

1. father.

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pop ⁴ American  

[pop] / pɒp /

noun

1. a frozen ice or ice-cream confection on a stick.

   Two lemon pops, please.

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POP ⁵ American  

[pee-oh-pee, pop] / ˈpiˈoʊˈpi, pɒp /

abbreviation

1. proof-of-purchase.

2. Computers. Post Office Protocol.

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pop. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. popular.

2. popularly.

3. population.

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p.o.p. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. point-of-purchase.

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P.O.P. ⁸ American  

abbreviation

1. printout paper.

2. point-of-purchase.

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pop ¹ British  

/ pɒp /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a light sharp explosive sound

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

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

4. (intr) (esp of the eyes) to protrude

   her eyes popped with amazement

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

6. (tr) to place or put with a sudden movement

   she popped some tablets into her mouth

7. informal (tr) to pawn

   he popped his watch yesterday

8. slang (tr) to take (a drug) in pill form or as an injection

   pill popping

9. See clog 1

10. informal to propose marriage

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noun

1. a light sharp explosive sound; crack

2. informal a flavoured nonalcoholic carbonated beverage

3. informal a try; attempt

   have a pop at goal

4. informal an instance of criticism

   Townsend has had a pop at modern bands

5. informal each

   30 million shares at 7 dollars a pop

adverb

1. with a popping sound

interjection

1. an exclamation denoting a sharp explosive sound

pop ² British  

/ pɒp /

noun

1. 1. 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

   2. ( as modifier )

      pop music

      a pop record

      a pop group

2. informal a piece of popular or light classical music

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adjective

1. informal short for popular

POP ³ British  

abbreviation

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

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

3. Post Office Preferred (size of envelopes, etc)

4. persistent organic pollutant

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pop. ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. popular

2. popularly

3. population

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pop ⁵ British  

/ pɒp /

noun

1. an informal word for father

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

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Regionalisms

See soda pop .

Etymology

Origin of pop¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English verb poppen “to strike”; of expressive origin

Origin of pop²

First recorded in 1860–65; shortening of popular

Origin of pop³

First recorded in 1820–30; short form of poppa

Origin of pop⁴

Probably shortening of Popsicle

Example Sentences

But historically, there have been two kinds of crashes when a bubble pops.

From Barron's

When it came to pop culture anniversaries, 2025 had plenty to reminisce on.

From Salon

“That’s how my legacy shows have been going — you never know who’s going to pop up, but you don’t want to miss it.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Hollywood location will partially function as a homebase for the Ringer, an L.A.-based media brand focused on sports and pop culture.

From Los Angeles Times

The pop star also said she had been "overwhelmed with the amount of support" she had received since posting her first video on the subject on Sunday.

From BBC

Related Words

• appear
• bang
• blow
• crack
• dart
• explode
• hit
• insert
• jump
• leap
• put
• shove
• snap
• stick
• thrust