Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The smallest quantity of liquid heavy enough to fall in a spherical mass.
  • noun Liquid medicine administered in drops.
  • noun A small quantity of a substance.
  • noun Informal An alcoholic drink.
  • noun A trace or hint.
  • noun Something, such as an earring, shaped or hanging like a drop.
  • noun A small globular piece of hard candy.
  • noun The act of falling; descent.
  • noun A swift decline or decrease, as in quality, quantity, or intensity.
  • noun The vertical distance from a higher to a lower level.
  • noun The distance through which something falls or drops.
  • noun A sheer incline, such as the face of a cliff.
  • noun A descent or delivery of something by parachute.
  • noun Personnel and equipment landed by means of parachute.
  • noun Something, such as a trapdoor on a gallows, that is arranged to fall or be lowered.
  • noun A drop curtain.
  • noun A slot through which something is deposited in a receptacle.
  • noun A central place or establishment where something, such as mail, is brought and subsequently distributed.
  • noun A predetermined location for the deposit and subsequent removal of secret communications or illicit goods, such as drugs.
  • noun The act of depositing such communications or materials.
  • noun Electronics A connection made available for an input or output unit on a transmission line.
  • intransitive verb To fall in drops.
  • intransitive verb To fall from a higher to a lower place or position.
  • intransitive verb To become less, as in number, intensity, or volume.
  • intransitive verb To move or descend from one height or level to another.
  • intransitive verb To fall or sink into a state of exhaustion or death.
  • intransitive verb To pass or slip into a specified state or condition.
  • intransitive verb Sports To fall or roll into a basket or hole. Used of a ball.
  • intransitive verb To let fall by releasing hold of.
  • intransitive verb To let fall in drops.
  • intransitive verb To cause to become less; reduce.
  • intransitive verb To cause to fall, as by hitting or shooting.
  • intransitive verb Sports To hurl or strike (a ball) into a basket or hole.
  • intransitive verb To give birth to. Used of animals.
  • intransitive verb To say or offer casually.
  • intransitive verb To write at one's leisure.
  • intransitive verb To cease consideration or treatment of.
  • intransitive verb To terminate an association or a relationship with.
  • intransitive verb To leave unfinished.
  • intransitive verb To leave out (a letter, for example) in speaking or writing.
  • intransitive verb To leave or set down at a particular place; unload.
  • intransitive verb Informal To spend, especially lavishly or rashly.
  • intransitive verb To airdrop (supplies, for example).
  • intransitive verb To lower the level of (the voice).
  • intransitive verb To lose (a game or contest, for example).

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English droppe, from Old English dropa; see dhreu- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old English dropa.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old English dropian.

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Examples

  • To go to sleep naturally we must learn how to drop all the tension of the day and literally _drop_ to sleep like a baby.

    Nerves and Common Sense Annie Payson Call 1896

  • Apparently because the typical rain drop is the same size as a radio wave in the 12 GHZ or DISH Network signal.

    Anyone have an update on Satellite Internet? 2006

  • You could have heard a pin drop from the silence from scottd after being drop-kicked by post #28, Cantvotewell's ACTUAL VOTE AGAINST PROHIBITING ILLEGAL ALIENS from drawing from the economically corrupt, pyramid based, transfer payment ponzi scheme known as Social Security.

    Sound Politics: Cantwell on the Attack 2006

  • Thus, the put player profits if shares in the name drop 11.7% from the current price of $9.90 to breach the effective breakeven point on the spread at $8.74 by expiration day next month.

    Forbes.com: News Caitlin Duffy 2011

  • For those who are new to the term drop shipping, drop shipping is a supply chain management technique in which the retailer does not keep goods in stock, but instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to either the manufacturer or a wholesaler, who then ships the goods directly to the customer.

    Digital Point Forums 2009

  • The one the guards took, before they were… before they… she let the phrase drop.

    The God Hater Bill Myers 2010

  • But the Nokia 2110 which I also still have is what I call drop-dead-simple!

    The times they are a-changing Helen Keegan 2006

  • Brewer: I threw an overhand curve ball, what we called a drop ball.

    The Neyer/James Guide To Pitchers Bill James Rob Neyer 2004

  • Brewer: I threw an overhand curve ball, what we called a drop ball.

    The Neyer/James Guide To Pitchers Bill James Rob Neyer 2004

  • Brewer: I threw an overhand curve ball, what we called a drop ball.

    The Neyer/James Guide To Pitchers Bill James Rob Neyer 2004

  • Bischoff explains that there’s a loophole in marketing schemes that makes them susceptible to bank drops—a dark web term that refers to using bank accounts with stolen or fraudulent credentials for money laundering.

    There’s a thriving black market for selfies with passports The A.V. Club 2022

  • There’s often a quick “pop drop,” which might be described as an EDM drop that’s been watered down for casual consumption.

    Streambait Pop | Liz Pelly 2018

Comments

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  • Nigerian English - 1. A taxi journey e.g Oga, na fifty Naira per drop. 2. To alight from a bus. 3. Pay up 4. Monetary bribe.

    September 17, 2008

  • in mountain biking, it's a drop off in a trail as a technical feature.

    January 12, 2013

  • Hello My Dear! how are you i am interested to be your good friend can you please send me an mail to my mail box so that i can tell you about me and give you my pic ( beccadd15@yahoo.com )

    i will be waiting you in my mailbox ok.

    January 13, 2013

  • drop, n.

    The Guardian, 16 March 2018:

    Now a prominent trend in fashion, the queue outside certain shops as they release new collections – otherwise known as “the drop” – has become the most significant decider of success for a brand, with the raucous hype it generates outweighing other forms of traditional marketing.

    August 3, 2018