noun
Common
dropping
DRO-pihng
Dropping (noun) means the act of something falling, or a small piece of animal waste. Example: “Rabbit droppings were scattered across the lawn.”
noun
1
The act of something falling, or a small piece of animal waste.
"Rabbit droppings were scattered across the lawn."
"The dropping of the ball marks the start of the countdown."
"The vet asked what the dog's droppings looked like this week."
How to use dropping
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually seen as "droppings" meaning animal excrement, or describes the act of something falling.
Common pairings
animal droppings
a sudden dropping
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Word forms
- Plural
- droppings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rabbit _____ were scattered across the lawn.
Etymology
By surface analysis, formed from drop plus -ing.
Related words
Rhymes for dropping
See all rhymes for dropping →Frequently asked questions
What does “dropping” mean?
The word “dropping” means the act of something falling, or a small piece of animal waste.
How do you pronounce “dropping”?
“Dropping” is pronounced DRO-pihng (/ˈdɹɑpɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dropping” in a sentence?
Here is “dropping” used in a sentence: “Rabbit droppings were scattered across the lawn.”
What part of speech is “dropping”?
“Dropping” is a noun.
Is “dropping” a common word?
“Dropping” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between 'dropping' and 'droppings'?
'Dropping' in the singular usually means the act of something falling, while 'droppings' in the plural refers to the solid waste of animals or birds. You would clean up bird droppings, not a bird dropping.
When is 'dropping' used to mean animal waste?
In the singular, a 'dropping' can mean a single small piece of animal waste, but the plural 'droppings' is far more common for this meaning. For the falling sense, 'dropping' describes the act of letting something fall.
What is the difference between 'droppings' and 'manure'?
Droppings are the natural solid waste of animals and birds, often found scattered where the animal left them, while manure usually refers to such waste gathered and used to fertilise soil. Manure is essentially droppings put to agricultural use.
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