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REFERENCE

drop

v. · n.
US //ˈdɹɑp// UK //dɹˈɒp// drop
  1. 1 to let fall (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to let something fall from your hand or from a higher place.

    to release an object so that it falls under the influence of gravity; can be intentional or accidental.

    Example

    Be careful not to drop that glass on the hard floor.

    Example

    The hiker accidentally dropped his compass into the ravine, leaving the group without a reliable way to navigate back to camp.

    Usage

    Transitive verb taking a direct object.
  2. 2 to decrease (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to go down in amount, price, or temperature.

    to decrease in value, volume, or intensity. Often used intransitively.

    Example

    The temperature will drop tonight, so wear a warm coat.

    Example

    Stock prices dropped sharply following the announcement of the new trade regulations, causing widespread concern among investors.

    Usage

    Commonly used as an intransitive verb.
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  1. 3 to stop or quit (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to stop doing something or stop talking about a subject.

    to cease a particular activity, discussion, or relationship.

    Example

    I decided to drop the subject because we were starting to argue.

    Example

    After three months of poor results, the company decided to drop the project entirely and focus on their core products.
  2. 4 to release a product (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    to release a new song, album, or product for people to buy or see.

    to release a creative work or product to the public market. Highly common in digital contexts.

    Example

    The band is going to drop their new album this Friday.

    Example

    The tech giant is expected to drop a surprise software update later this evening to address the security vulnerabilities.

    Usage

    Can be used both transitively and intransitively.
  3. 5 to mention casually (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    to mention a name or a fact casually in a conversation to impress people.

    to mention something, especially a famous person's name, in an incidental way to gain social status.

    Example

    He likes to drop the names of famous actors he has met.

    Example

    During the interview, she managed to drop the fact that she had studied at Oxford, hoping it would give her an edge.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'name-dropping'.
  4. 6 liquid globule (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a very small, round amount of liquid.

    a small quantity of liquid that forms a spherical shape.

    Example

    A few drops of rain fell on my face.

    Example

    The chemist added the reagent one drop at a time to ensure the reaction remained stable.
  5. 7 a fall or decrease (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a reduction in the amount or level of something.

    a decline or reduction in quantity, value, or degree.

    Example

    There has been a big drop in crime this year.

    Example

    The sudden drop in pressure indicated that a severe storm was approaching the coast.
  6. 8 vertical distance (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the distance from a high place down to a lower place.

    the vertical distance from a higher level to a lower one.

    Example

    It is a sixty-foot drop from the top of the cliff to the water.

    Example

    The architect warned that the sheer drop from the balcony required a reinforced safety railing to meet building codes.
  7. 9 music climax (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Music

    the part of a dance song where the beat and bass come back strongly.

    the point in an electronic dance music track where a build-up resolves into a heavy bassline or beat.

    Example

    The crowd went wild when the drop finally happened.

    Example

    The producer spent hours perfecting the tension in the bridge to ensure the drop would have maximum impact on the dance floor.
Etymology 1

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *dropōn Old English dropian Middle English droppen Proto-Indo-European *dʰrbʰ-néh₂- Proto-Indo-European *dʰrebʰ- Proto-Germanic *dreupaną Proto-Germanic *druppōną Proto-Germanic *drupô Proto-West Germanic *dropō Old English dropa ▲ Middle English droppen Middle English drope ▲ Middle English droppen Middle English droppe English drop From Late Middle English droppe, Middle English drope (“small quantity of liquid; small or least amount of something; pendant jewel; dripping of a liquid; a shower; nasal flow, catarrh; speck, spot; blemish; disease causing spots on the skin”) [and other forms], from Old English dropa (“a drop”), from Proto-West Germanic dropō (“drop (of liquid)”), from Proto-Germanic drupô (“drop (of liquid)”),, from dreupaną (“to drip, droop”), from Proto-Indo-European dʰrebʰ- (“to drip, drop”). Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian Droupe, Druppe (“drop”), Dutch drop, drup (“droplet”), German Tropfen (“drop”), German Low German Drüpp (“drop”), Luxembourgish Drëps (“drop”), Vilamovian tropa, troppa (“drop”), Yiddish טראָפּן (tropn, “drop”), Danish dråbe (“drop”), Faroese and Icelandic dropi (“drop”), Norwegian Bokmål dråpe (“drop”), Norwegian Nynorsk drope, dråpå (“drop”), Swedish droppe (“drop”).

Etymology 2

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *dropōn Old English dropian Middle English droppen Proto-Indo-European *dʰrbʰ-néh₂- Proto-Indo-European *dʰrebʰ- Proto-Germanic *dreupaną Proto-Germanic *druppōną Proto-Germanic *drupô Proto-West Germanic *dropō Old English dropa ▲ Middle English droppen Middle English drope ▲ Middle English droppen Middle English droppe English drop From Middle English droppen, dropen (“to fall in drops, drip or trickle down; to scatter, sprinkle; to be covered with a liquid; to give off moisture; of an object: to drop, fall; of a living being: to fall to the ground”) [and other forms], from Old English droppian, dropian (“to drop”), from Proto-West Germanic dropōn, from Proto-Germanic drupōną (“to fall in drops, drip”), ultimately from dreupaną (“to hang, droop; drop, drip”), from Proto-Indo-European dʰrebʰ- (“to drip, drop”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian drippe (“to drip”), Dutch druipen (“to drip”), German triefen (“to drip”), Yiddish טריפֿן (trifn, “to drip”), Icelandic drjúpa (“to drip”), Norwegian Nynorsk drjupa, drypa, drype (“to drip”), Swedish drypa (“to drip”).

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