English Reference
noun

dropping

n.
US /ˈdɹɑpɪŋ/ UK /dɹˈɒpɪŋ/ drop·ping UK spelling dropping's, dropping's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical

    animal waste, like poop, that you find on the ground.

    animal excrement, typically referring to the waste of birds, rabbits, or other small animals. Usually used in the plural form.

    Simple

    We found bird droppings on the balcony after we were away for a week.

    In context

    The presence of fresh rodent droppings in the warehouse indicated a significant breach in the building's pest control perimeter.

    Usage

    Almost always used in the plural form 'droppings'.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    the act of something falling down.

    the action or instance of something falling or being let go.

    Simple

    The sudden dropping of the heavy box made a loud noise.

    In context

    The accidental dropping of the glass vase resulted in a thousand tiny shards scattering across the marble floor.

Usage dropping water


By surface analysis, drop + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated