bop

¹

[ bop ]

noun

1. Also called bebop. early modern jazz developed in the early 1940s and characterized by often dissonant triadic and chromatic chords, fast tempos and eccentric rhythms, intricate melodic lines punctuated by pop-tune phrases, and emphasizing the inventiveness of soloists. Compare cool jazz, hard bop, modern jazz, progressive jazz.

verb (used without object)

, bopped, bop·ping.

1. Slang. to move, go, or proceed (often followed by on down ):

   Let's bop on down to the party.

bop

²

[ bop ]

verb (used with object)

, bopped, bop·ping.

1. to strike, as with the fist or a stick; hit.

noun

1. a blow.

bop

¹

/ bɒp /

verb

1. tr to strike; hit

noun

1. a blow

bop

²

/ bɒp /

noun

1. a form of jazz originating in the 1940s, characterized by rhythmic and harmonic complexity and instrumental virtuosity Originally calledbebop
2. informal.
   a session of dancing to pop music

verb

1. informal.
   intr to dance to pop music

Derived Forms

• ˈbopper, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bop¹

1945–50, Americanism; (be)bop

Origin of bop²

First recorded in 1935–40; variant of bob ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of bop¹

C19: of imitative origin

Origin of bop²

C20: shortened from bebop

Example Sentences

For a strange hour, one could digest Sunday brunch, laugh, cry, reflect, bop along to the music, quietly listen or let it all out in a deafening collective primal scream.

From Los Angeles Times

The former president also tossed a barb at a Trump town hall on Monday, during which the candidate paused questions to bop along to his playlist for nearly 40 minutes.

From Salon

For just under 40 minutes, the Republican candidate who won’t release his medical records stood on stage and “swayed,” “bopped” and “danced” to a playlist of his favorite songs.

From Salon

I love being able to bop from multiple different parking lots and multiple different venues on a stroll and shop for hours and hours and hours.

From Los Angeles Times

As the singer bopped around city to city on her own tour and eventually Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, she would tailor each outro to a new city.

From Salon