drop / dräp/ • v. (dropped, drop·ping) [tr.] 1. let or make (something) fall vertically: the fire was caused by someone dropping a lighted cigarette | they dropped bombs on London during the raid. ∎  deliver (supplies or troops) by parachute: the airlift dropped food into the camp. ∎  Rugby score (a goal) by a drop kick. ∎  (of an animal, esp. a mare, cow, or ewe) give birth to (young). ∎ inf. take (a drug, esp. LSD) orally: he dropped a lot of acid in the Sixties.2. [intr.] fall vertically: the spoon dropped with a clatter from her hand. ∎  (of a person) allow oneself to fall; let oneself down without jumping: they escaped by climbing out of the window and dropping to the ground. ∎  (of a person or animal) sink to or toward the ground: he dropped to his knees in the mud. ∎ inf. collapse or die from exhaustion: he looked ready to drop. ∎  (of ground) slope steeply down: the cliff drops ninety yards to the valley below.3. make or become lower, weaker, or less: [tr.] he dropped his voice as she came into the room | [intr.] pretax profits dropped by 37 percent tourism has dropped off in the last few years. 4. abandon or discontinue (a course of action or study): the charges against him were dropped last year | drop everything and get over here! ∎  discard or exclude (someone or something): they were dropped from the team in the reshuffle. ∎ inf. stop associating with: I was under pressure from family and friends to drop Barbara. ∎  omit (a letter or syllable) in speech: our English au pair drops her h's.5. set down or unload (a passenger or goods), esp. on the way to somewhere else: he dropped the load off at a dealer's | his mom dropped him outside and drove off to work. ∎  [tr.] put or leave in a particular place without ceremony or formality: just drop it in the mail when you've got time. ∎  mention in passing, typically in order to impress: she dropped a remark about having been included in the selection.6. (in sports) fail to win (a point, game, or match). ∎ inf. lose (money), esp. through gambling: they drifted into a roulette parlor and dropped about fifteen dollars.7. Bridge be forced to play (a relatively high card) as a loser under an opponent's higher card, because it is the only card in its suit held in the hand. ∎  force (an opponent's high card) to be played as a loser in this way: declarer dropped West's queen on the second round of spades. ∎  [intr.] (of a card) be played in this way: the queen dropped.• n. 1. a small round or pear-shaped portion of liquid that hangs or falls or adheres to a surface: the first drops of rain splashed on the ground. ∎  a very small amount of liquid: there was not a drop of water in sight. ∎  a drink of alcoholic liquor: he doesn't touch a drop during the week. ∎  (drops) liquid medicine to be measured or applied in very small amounts: eye drops.2. [usu. in sing.] an instance of falling or dropping: they left within five minutes of the drop of the curtain. ∎  an act of dropping supplies or troops by parachute: the planes finally managed to make the drop. ∎  a fall in amount, quality, or rate: a significant drop in consumer spending. ∎  an abrupt fall or slope: standing on the lip of a sixty-foot drop. ∎  (the drop) Bridge the playing of a high card underneath an opponent's higher card, because it is the only card in its suit held in the hand.3. something that drops or is dropped, in particular: ∎  a section of theatrical scenery lowered from the flies; a drop cloth or drop curtain. ∎  a trapdoor on a gallows, the opening of which causes the prisoner to fall and thus be hanged. ∎  (the drop) execution by hanging.4. something resembling a drop of liquid in shape, in particular: ∎  a piece of candy or a lozenge: a lemon drop. ∎  a pendant earring.5. inf. a delivery: I got to the depot and made the drop. ∎  a mailbox. ∎  a hiding place for stolen, illicit, or secret things: the lavatory's toilet tank could be used as a letter drop.PHRASES: at the drop of a hat inf. without delay or good reason: he used to be very bashful, blushing at the drop of a hat.drop the ball inf. make a mistake; mishandle things: I really dropped the ball on this one.drop dead die suddenly and unexpectedly: she had seen her father drop dead of a heart attack. ∎  [in imper.] inf. used as an expression of intense scorn or dislike.drop a (or the) dime on inf. inform on (someone) to the police.drop like flies see fly² .drop one's guard abandon one's habitual defensive or protective stance.drop a hint (or drop hints) let fall a hint or hints, as if casually or unconsciously: he was dropping hints that in the future he would be taking a back seat in politics.a drop in the bucket (or Brit. ocean) a very small amount compared with what is needed or expected: the $550 million is likely to be a drop in the bucket.drop someone a line send someone a note or letter in a casual manner: drop me a line at the usual address.drop names see name-dropping.drop one's serve (in tennis) lose a game in which one is serving.drop a stitch let a stitch fall off the end of a knitting needle.drop one's trousers deliberately let one's trousers fall down, esp. in a public place.have the drop on inf. have the advantage over: if your enemy gets the drop on you he can kill you.a drop too much inf. enough alcohol to make one drunk: you drive, because he has taken a drop too much.PHRASAL VERBS: drop back/behind fall back or get left behind: the colt was struggling to stay with the pace and started to drop back.drop by/in call informally and briefly as a visitor: they would unexpectedly drop in on us.drop into1. call casually and informally at (a place): he'd actually considered dropping into one of the pickup bars.2. pass quickly and easily into (a habitual state or manner): she couldn't help dropping into a Brooklyn accent.drop off fall asleep easily, esp. without intending to: struggle as she might, she kept dropping off.drop out1. cease to participate in a race or competition.2. abandon a course of study: kids who had dropped out of college.3. reject conventional society to pursue an alternative lifestyle: a child of the sixties who had temporarily dropped out.4. Rugby restart play with a drop kick. ∎  score a drop goal.DERIVATIVES: drop·pa·ble adj.