lollipop

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun British English

n. a round sign on a long stick used by people helping children cross the road.

n. a circular sign on a pole used by a school crossing patrol to stop traffic.

“The cars stopped when the woman held up her lollipop in the middle of the road.”

“In the UK, the school crossing patrol is colloquially named after the distinctive lollipop sign they carry to halt oncoming vehicles.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Sports Technical

n. a sign on a stick used in car racing to tell the driver when to stop or go.

n. a sign on a long handle used by a pit crew member to signal instructions to a driver during a pit stop.

“The driver watched the lollipop carefully to know exactly when to accelerate.”

“The mechanic lowered the lollipop to signal the driver to brake precisely at the designated mark in the pit lane.”

C2 · Proficiency Cooking Technical

v. to cut off the lower branches of a plant so it grows a round top on a bare stem.

v. to prune the lower foliage and lateral branches of a plant to encourage a concentrated canopy at the apex.

“He decided to lollipop his indoor plants to help the top flowers get more light.”

“By lollipopping the lower third of the stems, the gardener redirected the plant's energy toward the primary colas at the top of the canopy.”