Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small quantity of liquid: A very small amount of a liquid, typically spherical in shape due to surface tension.
   • A fall or descent: The act of falling or the distance something falls.
   • A decrease or reduction: A sudden or noticeable decline in amount, level, or value.
   • A delivery point: A designated place for leaving or collecting something, often secretly or illicitly.
   • A steep slope: A vertical or nearly vertical descent, such as a cliff.

2. Verb:

   • To fall or let fall: To move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control, or to cause something to do so.
   • To decrease or become less: To decline in amount, intensity, or value.
   • To stop or discontinue: To cease doing, including, or pursuing something.
   • To leave or deliver: To leave something or someone at a particular place.
   • To utter casually: To say something in a casual or incidental manner.

Examples

• Noun:

  • A single drop of water fell from the leaky faucet.
  • There was a significant drop in temperature overnight.
  • The spy left the documents at the designated drop.

• Verb:

  • Be careful not to drop the glass.
  • Stock prices began to drop after the announcement.
  • He decided to drop the course because it was too difficult.
  • Can you drop me off at the station?
  • She dropped a hint about the surprise party.

Advanced Usage

• "Drop a line": To write a short letter or message to someone.

  • Drop me a line when you get to your destination.

• "Drop the ball": To make a mistake or fail to do something important.

  • The manager really dropped the ball on that client account.

• "Drop in the bucket": A very small or insignificant amount compared to what is needed.

  • Our donation was just a drop in the bucket for such a large charity.

Variants and Related Words

• Droplet (n): A very small drop of liquid.

  • Droplets of rain covered the window.

• Drop-off (n): A steep decline; or the act of leaving someone or something somewhere.

  • The trail has a dangerous drop-off.
  • The morning drop-off at school is always busy.

• Dropper (n): A device for dispensing liquid in drops.

  • Use the medicine dropper to give the baby one milliliter.

Synonyms

• Noun: bead, drip, decline, fall, decrease.
• Verb: fall, descend, lower, decrease, abandon, quit.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Drop by / Drop in: To visit someone informally and usually without an appointment.

  • Feel free to drop by anytime you're in the neighborhood.

• Drop out: To leave a school, program, or activity before finishing.

  • He had to drop out of college to support his family.

• Drop off: To fall asleep; or to deliver someone or something.

  • The baby finally dropped off to sleep.
  • I'll drop off the package at the post office.

Related Idioms

• At the drop of a hat: Immediately and without any hesitation.

  • He's always ready to help at the drop of a hat.

• A drop in the ocean: See "drop in the bucket" under Advanced Usage.

Noun

1. the act of dropping something
   • they expected the drop would be successful
2. a central depository where things can be left or picked up
3. a curtain that can be lowered and raised onto a stage from the flies; often used as background scenery
4. a free and rapid descent by the force of gravity
   • it was a miracle that he survived the drop from that height
5. a predetermined hiding place for the deposit and distribution of illicit goods (such as drugs or stolen property)
6. a steep high face of rock
   • he stood on a high cliff overlooking the town
   • a steep drop
7. a sudden sharp decrease in some quantity
   • a drop of 57 points on the Dow Jones index
   • there was a drop in pressure in the pulmonary artery
   • a dip in prices
   • when that became known the price of their stock went into free fall
8. a small indefinite quantity (especially of a liquid)
   • he had a drop too much to drink
   • a drop of each sample was analyzed
   • there is not a drop of pity in that man
   • years afterward, they would pay the blood-money, driblet by driblet--Kipling
9. a shape that is spherical and small
   • he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops
   • beads of sweat on his forehead

Verb

1. give birth; used for animals
   • The cow dropped her calf this morning
2. grow worse
   • Her condition deteriorated
   • Conditions in the slums degenerated
   • The discussion devolved into a shouting match
3. fall or sink into a state of exhaustion or death
   • shop til you drop
4. change from one level to another
   • She dropped into army jargon
5. leave undone or leave out
   • How could I miss that typo?
   • The workers on the conveyor belt miss one out of ten
6. omit (a letter or syllable) in speaking or writing
   • New Englanders drop their post-vocalic r's
7. take (a drug, especially LSD), by mouth
   • She dropped acid when she was a teenager
8. get rid of
   • he shed his image as a pushy boss
   • shed your clothes
9. let or cause to fall in drops
   • dribble oil into the mixture
10. stop associating with
    • They dropped her after she had a child out of wedlock
11. hang freely
    • the ornaments dangled from the tree
    • The light dropped from the ceiling
12. lower the pitch of (musical notes)
13. pay out
    • spend money
14. lose (a game)
    • The Giants dropped 11 of their first 13
15. cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
    • strike down a tree
    • Lightning struck down the hikers
16. leave or unload
    • unload the cargo
    • drop off the passengers at the hotel
17. stop pursuing or acting
    • drop a lawsuit
    • knock it off!
18. utter with seeming casualness; drop names"
    • drop a hint
19. terminate an association with
    • drop him from the Republican ticket
20. fall or descend to a lower place or level
    • He sank to his knees
21. go down in value
    • Stock prices dropped
22. to fall vertically
    • the bombs are dropping on enemy targets
23. let fall to the ground
    • Don't drop the dishes