popper

¹

[ pop-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that pops.
2. a utensil, as a covered pan, used for popping corn.
3. Angling. chugger.
4. a vial of amyl or butyl nitrite abused as a vasodilator for the effect of exhilaration.

Popper

²

[ pop-er ]

noun

1. Sir Karl (Rai·mund) [rey, -m, uh, nd], 1902–1994, British philosopher, born in Austria.

popper

¹

/ ˈpɒpə /

noun

1. a person or thing that pops
2. an informal name for press stud
3. a container for cooking popcorn in
4. slang.
   an amyl nitrite capsule, which is crushed and its contents inhaled by drug users as a stimulant

Popper

²

/ ˈpɒpə; pɒˈpɪərɪən /

noun

1. PopperSir Karl19021994MBritishAustrianPHILOSOPHY: philosopher Sir Karl. 1902–94, British philosopher, born in Vienna. In The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1934), he proposes that knowledge cannot be absolutely confirmed, but rather that science progresses by the experimental refutation of the current theory and its consequent replacement by a new theory, equally provisional but covering more of the known data. The Open Society and its Enemies (1945) is a critique of dogmatic political philosophies, such as Marxism. Other works are The Poverty of Historicism (1957), Conjectures and Refutations (1963), and Objective Knowledge (1972)

Derived Forms

• Popperian, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of popper¹

1740–50; pop ¹ + -er ¹; compare Middle English poppere a small dagger

Example Sentences

He said the one he had attended was facilitated by chaperones in Abercrombie polos and flip-flops, carrying silver platters of alcohol, poppers and lube.

From BBC

At the Hollywood Bowl, we hissed at the Baroness, booed at the Nazis and shot off confetti poppers when Maria got her first kiss.

From Los Angeles Times

Other techniques he uses frequently include avoiding buttons and using velcro and poppers, so people with disabilities can dress themselves more easily.

From BBC

Party poppers, crossword puzzles, and a mini bottle of Prosecco - all neatly packaged in an orange gift bag that said "Welcome Aboard".

From BBC

The sexual content — of which there is plenty — is rendered with disarming, pantomimic silliness: bananas to suggest erections; party poppers let off to signify the moment of climax.

From New York Times