drop
Drop (noun) means a small round blob of liquid. Example: “A drop of rain landed on her nose.”
How to use drop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost basically, to fall or let something fall — but it stretches to mean releasing music, quitting something, decreasing in value, and dozens of other everyday uses.
As a noun it means a small blob of liquid; as a verb its meaning shifts heavily depending on context, so check the surrounding sentence.
Word forms
dropped past tense, dropt past tense, drop plural, dropped plural, dropt plural, drops singular, drop singular, dropped singular, dropt singular, droppedst singular, droppest singular, droppeth singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of rain landed on her nose.
Etymology
From Old English dropian, related to an ancient root meaning "to hang, drip, or fall in drops" — the same source as "drip."
Related words
Rhymes for drop
See all rhymes for drop →Frequently asked questions
What does “drop” mean?
The word “drop” means a small round blob of liquid. In plain terms, most basically, to fall or let something fall — but it stretches to mean releasing music, quitting something, decreasing in value, and dozens of other everyday uses.
How do you pronounce “drop”?
“Drop” is pronounced drop (/dɹɑp/ in IPA).
How do you use “drop” in a sentence?
Here is “drop” used in a sentence: “A drop of rain landed on her nose.”
What part of speech is “drop”?
Depending on how it is used, “drop” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “drop” come from?
The word “drop” comes from Old English. From Old English dropian, related to an ancient root meaning "to hang, drip, or fall in drops" — the same source as "drip.".
Is “drop” a common word?
“Drop” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “drop” have?
“Drop” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small round blob of liquid.
What is the difference between a drop and a droplet?
A drop is a small, rounded amount of liquid, such as a drop of rain or a drop of oil. A droplet is simply a very small drop — the word emphasises tiny size, like the droplets in mist or spray. Every droplet is a drop, but the term highlights how minute it is.
How big is a drop of liquid?
A drop has no fixed size, but in medicine and science one drop is often treated as roughly 0.05 millilitres, meaning about twenty drops make a millilitre. The exact size depends on the liquid's thickness and the opening it falls from, so thicker liquids tend to form larger drops.
What is an example of a drop of liquid?
Common examples include a drop of rain, a drop of blood, a teardrop, or a drop of water hanging from a tap. Eye drops and drops of medicine are measured out this way too. In each case, it is a small, rounded blob of liquid held together by surface tension.
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