Word
dropping
Phoneticsdrop·ping, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɹɑpɪŋ/
UK/dɹˈɒpɪŋ/
Definitions
01letting something fall
A2 · Elementary
v. the action of letting something fall to the ground.
v. the present participle of 'drop', describing the act of letting something fall or decreasing in level.
“He was dropping his keys when I caught them mid-air.”
“The central bank is dropping interest rates in an attempt to stimulate the sluggish economy before the next quarter begins.”
02animal waste
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun
n. the waste or 'poo' left behind by animals, like birds or rabbits.
n. animal excrement, typically referring to the small, solid waste of birds, rodents, or other small animals.
“We found rabbit droppings in the garden near the carrots.”
“The presence of fresh bird droppings on the statue suggested that a large flock had recently nested in the cathedral eaves.”
03the act of falling
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. the act of something falling or being let go.
n. the action or instance of something falling or being released from a height.
“The sudden dropping of the temperature made everyone shiver.”
“The accidental dropping of the fragile cargo during transit resulted in a significant insurance claim for the shipping company.”
Antonyms
Etymology
By surface analysis, drop + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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