popper

¹

[ pop-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that pops.
2. a utensil, as a covered pan, used for popping corn.
3. Angling. chugger.
4. a vial of amyl or butyl nitrite abused as a vasodilator for the effect of exhilaration.

Popper

²

[ pop-er ]

noun

1. Sir Karl (Rai·mund) [rey, -m, uh, nd], 1902–1994, British philosopher, born in Austria.

popper

¹

/ ˈpɒpə /

noun

1. a person or thing that pops
2. an informal name for press stud
3. a container for cooking popcorn in
4. slang.
   an amyl nitrite capsule, which is crushed and its contents inhaled by drug users as a stimulant

Popper

²

/ ˈpɒpə; pɒˈpɪərɪən /

noun

1. PopperSir Karl19021994MBritishAustrianPHILOSOPHY: philosopher Sir Karl. 1902–94, British philosopher, born in Vienna. In The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1934), he proposes that knowledge cannot be absolutely confirmed, but rather that science progresses by the experimental refutation of the current theory and its consequent replacement by a new theory, equally provisional but covering more of the known data. The Open Society and its Enemies (1945) is a critique of dogmatic political philosophies, such as Marxism. Other works are The Poverty of Historicism (1957), Conjectures and Refutations (1963), and Objective Knowledge (1972)

Derived Forms

• Popperian, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of popper¹

1740–50; pop ¹ + -er ¹; compare Middle English poppere a small dagger

Example Sentences

Cannabis use is also more likely to cause problems with certain groups of people, like those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, who have significant psychiatric disorders or who have a history of substance abuse, Poppers says.

From Time

Popper and Queen did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

From The Daily Beast

When Popper told the paper about the agreement with Paramount, assistant managing editor Sam Dolnick, who oversees the Times’ film and audio departments, “freaked out,” according to three people familiar with the situation.

From The Daily Beast

The paper approached Paramount to lock in their own deal that would have leaned on the GameStop reporting printed in the Times rather than rely on the material reported independently in Popper’s book.

From The Daily Beast

We want to echo Popper and stress that bold conjectures are needed, too.

From Nautilus

In the 20th century, the foremost advocate of black swan logic was Sir Karl Popper, the British philosopher of science.

From The Daily Beast

Ben Popper is a reporter born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.

From The Daily Beast

He was one of those who thoroughly enjoy being a "popper-in" at the boxes of friends where beauty sits triumphant.

From Project Gutenberg

But as they were studying over ways and means, Myrtle Popper came in with fresh information by way of Sassafras.

From Project Gutenberg

They would go rattling and rolling around on the ground everywhere, like pop-corn in a popper.

From Project Gutenberg

"I am going to try some of my pop-corn," he said suddenly, and started for the popper.

From Project Gutenberg

"An' pills like popper used to take," he continued when he had lowered the level of the water in his flask.

From Project Gutenberg