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

He was dubbed Jack the Lop Ear and has become somewhat of a local celebrity.

From The Daily Beast

Lop off the endnotes and bibliography, and The Measure of Manhattan is barely 300 pages.

From The Daily Beast

For a summer cut her mother would lop off the braids, leaving her with a chic bob for the warmer months.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, mortgage modifications and foreclosures continue to lop off mortgage debt.

From The Daily Beast

A lop-sided power structure gives everyone the wrong incentives.

From The Daily Beast

Good place to lop about, y' know; a decent place to sit, and a few books and cards and that sort of thing.

From Project Gutenberg

The doors and the holes for windows are crooked and lop-sided as they would be in a childish attempt.

From Project Gutenberg

The first I knew, Lop-Ear had shrunk away to one side and was crouching low against the bank.

From Project Gutenberg

The first morning, after my night's sleep with Lop-Ear, I learned the advantage of the narrow-mouthed caves.

From Project Gutenberg

Lop-Ear was a year older than I, but I was several times angrier than he, and in the end he took to his heels.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• shear