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drop
/drɒp/
small quantity
Add a drop of honey to the tea.
A tiny amount of honey is being added to the tea.
general
A small quantity of liquid
She put a drop of lemon juice in her water.
A tiny amount of lemon juice was added to the water.
Often used for liquids like water, oil, or medicine.
general
To let something fall unintentionally
Don't drop the vase!
Be careful not to let the vase fall.
Can refer to physical objects or abstract things like responsibilities.
general
A decline in amount, value, or intensity
There was a sharp drop in temperature last night.
The temperature decreased significantly overnight.
Common in financial, weather, or performance contexts.
informal
To stop participating or engaging
He dropped out of the race after the first lap.
He stopped participating in the race after the initial part.
Often used with 'out' as a phrasal verb (drop out).
informal
To leave a place quickly and unexpectedly
She dropped by the party for just five minutes.
She visited the party briefly and left early.
Similar to 'stop by' but implies a shorter visit.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 'drop' as a noun vs. verb
As a noun, 'drop' often refers to a small quantity (e.g., 'a drop of blood') or a decline (e.g., 'a drop in sales'). As a verb, it describes an action (e.g., 'She dropped her keys').
Gold Rule
Common collocations with 'drop'
Remember that 'drop' frequently pairs with prepositions like 'by' (drop by), 'off' (drop off), or 'out' (drop out). These phrasal verbs have specific meanings.
Word Origin
From Old English 'dropa' (a drop), related to Middle Low German 'drop' and Dutch 'drup'. The verb sense emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
As a noun, 'drop' is uncountable when referring to a small quantity (e.g., 'a drop of water'). As a verb, it can be transitive or intransitive depending on context.
Word Breakdown
drop
a small quantity or the act of falling
rootEnglish Dictionary