drop
drop
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "drop" is /drɒp/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
/drɒp/
/d/: Voiced alveolar plosive
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant
/ɒ/: Open-mid back rounded vowel
/p/: Voiceless bilabial plosive
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: drop
Plural Noun: drops
Present Tense Verb (base form): drop
Present Tense Verb (third person singular): drops
Present Participle/Gerund: dropping
Past Tense Verb: dropped
Past Participle Verb: dropped
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A small, spherical or tear-shaped mass of liquid that hangs or falls.
Synonyms: droplet, globule, bead, tear
Antonyms: puddle, deluge, flood, ocean
Definition 2: A sudden fall or decline in amount, level, or value.
Synonyms: decrease, reduction, downturn, dip
Antonyms: increase, rise, surge, jump
Definition 3: (Informal) A small amount or quantity of something, especially liquid.
Synonyms: bit, dash, spot, touch
Antonyms: lot, abundance, plenty, plethora
Definition 4: A short vertical distance or fall.
Synonyms: descent, precipice, plunge, decline
Antonyms: ascent, rise, climb, incline
Verb
Definition 1: To allow or cause (something) to fall, often unintentionally.
Synonyms: let fall, release, relinquish, unhand
Antonyms: catch, hold, grasp, pick up
Definition 2: To fall vertically or steeply.
Synonyms: descend, plunge, plummet, sink
Antonyms: rise, ascend, climb, soar
Definition 3: To decrease in amount, level, or value.
Synonyms: decline, diminish, lessen, reduce
Antonyms: increase, rise, grow, escalate
Definition 4: To intentionally end or cease an activity, association, or course of action.
Synonyms: discontinue, abandon, quit, give up
Antonyms: continue, maintain, pursue, persist
Definition 5: To deliver or leave something at a specified place.
Synonyms: deliver, deposit, leave, bring
Antonyms: pick up, collect, retrieve, take
Definition 6: (Informal) To dismiss or exclude (someone) from a team, group, or project.
Synonyms: dismiss, exclude, remove, expel
Antonyms: include, recruit, admit, retain
Examples of Use
Books:
"He felt a drop of sweat trickle down his brow as he faced his adversary." (From a work of fiction)
"The novelist employs a narrative technique known as a 'time drop,' where the story occasionally shifts to a past event to provide context." (From a literary analysis)
Newspapers:
"The Central Bank announced a drop in interest rates, aiming to stimulate economic growth." (Reuters)
"Police are investigating a significant drop in the number of reported burglaries in the city's downtown area." (The Daily Chronicle)
Online Publications:
"Experts predict a sharp drop in global oil prices due to increased production and decreased demand." (Bloomberg.com)
"Don't drop the ball on this crucial project; our reputation depends on it." (Forbes.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "You make my heart drop every time you walk into the room." (Lyrics from a popular song)
Television: "The detective asked the witness to drop the accusations until further evidence was gathered." (Dialogue from a crime drama)
Video Games: "Be careful not to drop your weapon during intense combat, or you'll be defenseless." (In-game tutorial message)
Podcasts: "In this week's episode, we drop some exclusive insights into the upcoming tech trends." (Podcast episode description)
General Public Discourse:
"Could you drop me off at the corner? I can walk the rest of the way." (Spoken conversation)
"There's been a noticeable drop in air quality since the factory opened." (Public discussion)
"I need to drop these old clothes off at the charity shop." (Everyday conversation)
10 Quotes Using Drop
"A single drop of ink may make a million think." (Lord Byron)
"The first drop of blood is enough." (Jean-Jacques Rousseau)
"Every drop of water in the ocean counts." (Yoko Ono)
"You must never drop the ball." (Vince Lombardi)
"Love is a drop of the infinite." (Jiddu Krishnamurti)
"Just one drop of rain can start a flood." (African Proverb)
"Never drop your standards to meet others' expectations." (Unknown)
"A drop of poison in a glass of water renders the whole undrinkable." (Unknown)
"The last drop makes the cup run over." (Italian Proverb)
"Let us not drop the subject, but discuss it until we find a solution." (African-American Proverb)
Etymology
The word "drop" has a really old and interesting history! It comes from Old English, which was the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The earliest known uses of "drop," both as a noun (like "a drop of water") and a verb (like "to drop a ball"), date back to this Old English period, so before the year 1150.
The Old English word for the noun was "dropa", meaning "a small, spherical mass of liquid." Think of a single bead of water or a tear.
The verb form, "dropian", meant "to fall in drops" or "to fall in small portions, like a liquid."
Essentially, the core idea of "drop" has always been about something falling in small amounts, particularly liquid. Over time, it expanded to mean solid objects falling, or even things like prices or temperatures going down. It's a word that has kept its original meaning quite closely, while also growing to cover many related actions and concepts.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Drop
Drop of a hat: (Meaning: immediately, without hesitation)
Drop the ball: (Meaning: to make a mistake, especially by failing to do something important)
Drop a hint: (Meaning: to suggest something in an indirect way)
Drop names: (Meaning: to mention famous people one knows or has met, often to impress others)
Drop dead: (Meaning: a rude way to tell someone to go away or stop bothering you; also, to die suddenly)
Drop out: (Meaning: to quit a course, school, or competition)
Drop by/in: (Meaning: to visit informally and without planning)
Drop anchor: (Meaning: for a ship, to lower its anchor; figuratively, to settle down somewhere)
At the drop of a pin: (Similar to "drop of a hat," meaning immediately)
To drop a line: (Meaning: to send a brief message, often by letter or email)
Drop a bombshell: (Meaning: to deliver surprising or shocking news)
The bottom will drop out: (Meaning: a situation will fail completely or collapse)
To drop everything: (Meaning: to stop whatever one is doing to attend to something else)
Let the matter drop: (Meaning: to stop discussing or pursuing an issue)
A drop in the bucket: (Meaning: a very small and insignificant amount compared to what is needed or expected)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of drop from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
