lop

¹

[ lop ]

verb (used with object)

, lopped, lop·ping.

1. to cut off (branches, twigs, etc.) from a tree or other plant.
2. to cut off (a limb, part, or the like) from a person, animal, etc.
3. to cut off the branches, twigs, etc., of (a tree or other plant).
4. to eliminate as unnecessary or excessive:

   We had to lop off whole pages of the report before presenting it to the committee.

5. Archaic. to cut off the head, limbs, etc., of (a person).

verb (used without object)

, lopped, lop·ping.

1. to cut off branches, twigs, etc., as of a tree.
2. to remove parts by or as by cutting.

noun

1. parts or a part lopped off.
2. (of trees) the smaller branches and twigs not useful as timber.

lop

²

[ lop ]

verb (used without object)

, lopped, lop·ping.

1. to hang loosely or limply; droop.
2. to sway, move, or go in a drooping or heavy, awkward way.
3. to move in short, quick leaps:

   a rabbit lopping through the garden.

verb (used with object)

, lopped, lop·ping.

1. to let hang or droop:

   He lopped his arms at his sides in utter exhaustion.

adjective

1. hanging down limply or droopingly:

   lop ears.

LOP

³

abbreviation for

, Navigation.

1. line of position.

lop

¹

/ lɒp /

verb

1. to sever (parts) from a tree, body, etc, esp with swift strokes
2. to cut out or eliminate from as excessive

noun

1. a part or parts lopped off, as from a tree

lop

²

/ lɒp /

noun

1. dialect.
   a flea

lop

³

/ lɒp /

verb

1. to hang or allow to hang loosely
2. intr to slouch about or move awkwardly
3. intr a less common word for lope

Derived Forms

• ˈlopper, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lop¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English loppe “cut off twigs or branches”; further origin uncertain; perhaps akin to Old English loppe “spider”; lop ², lobster

Origin of lop²

First recorded in 1570–80; verb use of obsolete noun lop “spider” or lop “drooping part of a tree,” that is, “to behave like a lop, to dangle, hang loosely”; lop ¹, lob ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lop¹

C15 loppe branches cut off; compare lob ¹

Origin of lop²

probably from Old Norse hloppa (unattested) flea, from hlaupa to leap

Origin of lop³

C16: perhaps related to lop ¹; compare lob ¹

Example Sentences

“Maybe you don’t lop off the tops of every mountain,” jokes Selena Deckelmann, chief product and technology officer at the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia.

From Seattle Times

Ballinger said climate change has shortened the season as lingering higher temperatures often delay the start before returning early in the spring to lop it off.

From Los Angeles Times

But Democrats dug in on the Big Three, declining to even hold public hearings on measures that would lop off billions of dollars in state tax revenues and jeopardize the programs they pay for — sending them to voters and queuing up an epic fight on the November ballot.

From Seattle Times

She and the Creature eventually conspire to lop off that grabby assailant’s hand to replace a decaying limb.

From Los Angeles Times

Ballinger said climate change has shortened the season as lingering higher temperatures often delay the start before returning early in the spring to lop it off.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• shear