drop
[ drop ]
/ drɒp /
noun
a small quantity of liquid that falls or is produced in a more or less spherical mass; a liquid globule.
the quantity of liquid contained in such a globule.
a very small quantity of liquid: I'll have a little more tea, just a drop.
a minute quantity of anything: not even a drop of mercy.
Usually drops.
- liquid medicine given in a dose or form of globules from a medicine dropper.
- a solution for dilating the pupils of the eyes, administered to the eyes in globules by a medicine dropper.
a limited amount of an alcoholic beverage: He occasionally takes a drop after dinner.
an act or instance of dropping; fall; descent.
the distance or depth to which anything drops: a ten-foot drop to the ground.
a steep slope: a short drop to the lake.
a decline in amount, degree, quality, value, etc.: a drop in prices.
a small, usually spherical, piece of candy; lozenge: a lemon drop.
a central depository where items are left or transmitted: a mail drop.
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.
something resembling or likened to a liquid globule, as certain ornaments, a spherical earring, etc.
a pendant.
a descent by parachute.
an instance of dropping supplies by parachute or an amount of supplies so dropped.
something that drops or is used for dropping.
a group of persons dropped by parachute, as the personnel dropped by parachute during one military action.
Theater.
a gallows.
a slit or opening into which something can be dropped, as in a mailbox.
(in a casino) the income from the sale of chips.
a small flag, usually of enameled metal, that gives a visual signal in an annunciator.
Furniture.
an applied ornament resembling a pendant.
Architecture.
gutta(def 2).
Nautical.
the vertical dimension amidships of any sail that is bent to a standing yard.
Compare hoist(def 6a).
Also called drop panel.
(in reinforced-concrete-slab construction) a thickened portion of the ceiling around a column head.
Horology.
the free motion of an escape wheel between successive checks by the pallet.
the newborn young of an animal.
verb (used without object), dropped or dropt, drop·ping.
to fall in globules or small portions, as water or other liquid: Rain drops from the clouds.
to fall vertically; have an abrupt descent.
to sink or fall to the ground, floor, or bottom as if inanimate.
to fall lower in condition, degree, value, etc.; diminish or lessen; sink: The prices dropped sharply.
to come to an end; cease; lapse: There the matter dropped.
to fall or move to a position that is lower, farther back, inferior, etc.: to drop back in line; to drop to the rear.
to withdraw; quit (often followed by out or from): to drop out of a race; to drop from a game.
to pass or enter without effort into some condition, activity, or the like: to drop into sleep; to drop into a habit.
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?
to cease to appear or be seen; vanish: to drop from sight or notice.
to fall wounded, dead, etc.: A thousand men dropped in the battle.
to squat or crouch, as a dog at the sight of game.
to move gently, as with the tide or a light wind (usually followed by down).
Slang.
to ingest an illicit drug orally; swallow.
verb (used with object), dropped or dropt, drop·ping.
to let fall in drops or small portions: to drop lemon juice into tea.
to let or cause to fall.
to cause or allow to sink to a lower position.
to cause to decrease in value, amount, quality, etc.; reduce.
to utter or express casually or incidentally: to drop a hint.
to write and send: Drop me a note.
to bring to the ground by a blow or shot.
to set down or unload, as from a ship, car, etc. (often followed by off): Drop me at the corner.
to omit (a letter or syllable) in pronunciation or writing: He dropped his h's.
to lower (the voice) in pitch or loudness.
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?
to cease to employ, admit as a member, or include, as on a list; dismiss: to drop an accountant from the payroll; to drop three members of the club who have not paid their dues.
to withdraw or cease to pursue: The police dropped the charges against the suspect.
Sports.
- 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.
- to lose (a game or contest): They dropped two games in a row and were eliminated from the tournament.
Football.
- to drop-kick (a ball).
- to score with a drop kick.
(of animals) to give birth to: The cat dropped a litter of six kittens.
to parachute (persons, supplies, etc.): The Marines dropped 300 combat troops into the jungle battlefield.
to lengthen by lowering or letting out: to drop the hem of a skirt.
to lower (the wheels) into position for landing an airplane.
Slang.
to take (especially an illicit drug) by swallowing; ingest: to drop LSD.
Nautical.
to pass out of sight of; outdistance.
Cookery.
to poach (an egg).
Verb Phrases
drop behind,
to fall short of the required pace or progress: Her long illness caused her to drop behind the rest of the class.
drop off,
- to fall asleep.
- to decrease; decline: Sales have dropped off drastically.
drop out,
- to withdraw from being a member or participant: to drop out of a club; to drop out of society and become a wanderer.
- to stop attending school or college.
Idioms for drop
at the drop of a hat,
at the slightest provocation or without delay: He's ready to fight at the drop of a hat.
drop dead,
(used as an expression of contempt, disgust, impatience, etc.): If that's the way you feel about it, drop dead!
- to aim and be ready to shoot a gun at an antagonist before the other person's gun can be drawn.
- to get or have at a disadvantage.
drop in the bucket.
bucket(def 13).
get/have the drop on,
Origin of drop
OTHER WORDS FROM drop
drop·like, adjective un·dropped, adjectiveWords nearby drop
drool,
drooly,
droop,
droop nose,
droopy,
drop,
drop a bombshell,
drop a brick,
drop a dime,
drop a line,
drop arch
British Dictionary definitions for drop by
drop
/ (drɒp) /
noun
a small quantity of liquid that forms or falls in a spherical or pear-shaped mass; globule
a very small quantity of liquid
a very small quantity of anything
something resembling a drop in shape or size, such as a decorative pendant or small sweet
the act or an instance of falling; descent
a decrease in amount or value; slump
a drop in prices
the vertical distance that anything may fall
a steep or sheer incline or slope
short for fruit drop
the act of unloading troops, equipment, or supplies by parachute
(in cable television) a short spur from a trunk cable that feeds signals to an individual house
theatre See drop curtain
mainly US and Canadian
a slot or aperture through which an object can be dropped to fall into a receptacle
Australian cricket slang
a fall of the wicket
he came in at first drop
See drop shot
a drop in the bucket or a drop in the ocean
an amount very small in relation to what is needed or desired
at the drop of a hat
without hesitation or delay
have had a drop too much
to be drunk
have the drop on someone US and NZ
to have the advantage over someone
verb drops, dropping or dropped
(of liquids) to fall or allow to fall in globules
to fall or allow to fall vertically
(tr)
to allow to fall by letting go of
to sink or fall or cause to sink or fall to the ground, as from a blow, wound, shot, weariness, etc
(intr; foll by back, behind, etc)
to fall, move, or go in a specified manner, direction, etc
(intr; foll by in, by, etc) informal
to pay a casual visit (to)
to decrease or cause to decrease in amount or value
the cost of living never drops
to sink or cause to sink to a lower position, as on a scale
to make or become less in strength, volume, etc
(intr)
to sink or decline in health or condition
(intr sometimes foll by into)
to pass easily into a state or condition
to drop into a habit
(intr)
to move along gently as with a current of water or air
(tr)
to allow to pass casually in conversation
to drop a hint
(tr)
to leave out (a word or letter)
(tr)
to set down or unload (passengers or goods)
(tr)
to send or post
drop me a line/text/email
(tr)
to discontinue; terminate
let's drop the matter
(tr)
to cease to associate or have to do with
(tr) slang, mainly US
to cease to employ
he was dropped from his job
(tr; sometimes foll by in, off, etc) informal
to leave or deposit, esp at a specified place
(of animals) to give birth to (offspring)
slang, mainly US and Canadian
to lose (money), esp when gambling
(tr)
to lengthen (a hem, etc)
(tr)
to unload (troops, equipment, or supplies) by parachute
(tr) nautical
to leave behind; sail out of sight of
(tr) sport
to omit (a player) from a team
(tr)
to lose (a score, game, or contest)
the champion dropped his first service game
(tr) sport
to hit or throw (a ball) into a goal
he dropped a 30 foot putt
(tr)
to hit (a ball) with a drop shot
drop astern nautical
to fall back to the stern (of another vessel)
(tr) motor racing slang
to spin (the car) and (usually) crash out of the race
(tr) slang
to swallow (a drug, esp a barbiturate or LSD)
drop dead! slang
an exclamation of contempt
noun, verb
rugby
short for drop kick or drop-kick
Word Origin for drop
Old English
dropian; related to Old High German
triofan to
drip
Medical definitions for drop by
drop
[ drŏp ]
n.
The smallest quantity of liquid heavy enough to fall in a spherical mass.
A volume of liquid equal to 176 of a teaspoon and regarded as a unit of dosage for medication.
A small globular piece of candy, usually readily dissolved in the mouth.
v.
To fall, be dispensed, or poured in drops.
Idioms and Phrases with drop by (1 of 2)
drop by
Also, drop in or over. Pay a brief, casual, and usually unannounced visit. For example, I asked her to drop by whenever she was in the neighborhood, or Joan loves to have friends drop in, or We'd love to drop over but we haven't time on this trip. The first term dates from the first half of the 1900s; drop in is from the mid-1600s and drop over from the late 1800s.
Idioms and Phrases with drop by (2 of 2)
drop
In addition to the idioms beginning with drop
- drop a bombshell
- drop a brick
- drop a dime
- drop a line
- drop back
- drop behind
- drop by
- drop dead
- drop in one's tracks
- drop in someone's lap
- drop in the bucket
- drop like a hot potato
- drop like flies
- drop names
- drop off
- drop out
- drop the ball
also see:
- 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