pop1/pɑp/USA pronunciationv.,popped, pop•ping,n., adv. v.
to (cause to) make a short, quick, explosive sound: [no object]The cork popped.[~ + object]He popped the cork off the bottle.
to burst open with such a sound, as chestnuts or corn in roasting: [no object]The balloons popped.[~ + object]Someone was going around with a pin and popping all the balloons.
to come or go quickly, suddenly, or when not expected:[no object]She just popped by and said hello.
See pop in below.
to shoot with a gun: [no object]to pop at a mark.[~ + object]to pop a few bullets at them.
(of eyes) to grow round or very wide open, as if sticking out from the sockets:[no object]His eyes nearly popped out of his head when the president walked up to him and said hello.
to put or thrust quickly:[~ + object]Pop the muffins into the oven.
Informal Terms, Drugs[~ + object]
to swallow (pills), esp. as a habit:popping pills: uppers and downers.
Slang Termspop for, [~ + object]to pay for, esp. as a treat:said he would pop for the dinner.
pop in, [no object][Informal.]to visit briefly; drop by:She just popped in, stayed a while, and left.
pop off, [no object][Informal.]
to die suddenly.
to say too much or speak angrily or indiscreetly:kept popping off about how hard his job was.
pop up, [no object] to appear or show up suddenly:She pops up at the oddest times.
-pop- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "people.'' This meaning is found in such words as: populace, popular, popularity, popularize, populate, populous.
to make a short, quick, explosive sound:The cork popped.
to burst open with such a sound, as chestnuts or corn in roasting.
to come or go quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly:She popped into the kitchen to check the stove.
to shoot with a firearm:to pop at a mark.
to protrude from the sockets:The news made her eyes pop.
Sport[Baseball.]
to hit a pop fly (often fol. by up).
to pop out.
v.t.
to cause to make a sudden, explosive sound.
to cause to burst open with such a sound.
to open suddenly or violently:to pop the hood on a car; to pop the tab on a beer can.
to put or thrust quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly:He popped the muffins into the oven.
Informal Termsto cause to fire; discharge:He popped his rifle at the bird.
to shoot (usually fol. by at, off, etc.):He popped off bottles with a slingshot.
British Termsto pawn.
Informal Terms, Drugs
to take or swallow (pills), esp. in excess or habitually; take orally in a compulsive or addictive way:Popping all those pills will land him in the hospital.
to eat in a continual or thoughtless manner, as snack foods:popping peanuts at the movies.
pop for, [Slang.]to pay or buy for oneself or another, esp. as a gift or treat; spring for:I'll pop for the first round of drinks.
pop in, [Informal.]to visit briefly and unexpectedly; stop in; drop by:Maybe we'll pop in after the movie.
pop off, [Informal.]
to die, esp. suddenly.
to depart, esp. abruptly.
to express oneself volubly or excitedly and sometimes irately or indiscreetly:He popped off about the injustice of the verdict.
pop out, [Baseball.]to be put out by hitting a pop fly caught on the fly by a player on the opposing team.
pop the question, [Informal.]to propose marriage:They dated for two years before he popped the question.
Sportpop up, [Baseball.]to hit a pop fly.
n.
a short, quick, explosive sound.
a popping.
a shot with a firearm.
Informal TermsSee soda pop.
Winea drink or portion of an alcoholic beverage, as a drink of whiskey or a glass of beer:We had a couple of pops on the way home.
Sport[Baseball.]See pop fly.
a pop, [Slang.]each; apiece:five orchids at $30 a pop.
adv.
with an explosive sound:The balloon went pop.
quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly:Pop, the door flew open!
adj.
Informal Termsunexpected; without prior warning or announcement:The teacher gave us a pop quiz.
1375–1425; late Middle English (noun, nominal) poppe a blow; (verb, verbal) poppen to strike; of expressive origin, originally
3. appear, burst.
24. See soda pop.
pop2(pop),USA pronunciationadj.
of or pertaining to popular songs:pop music; pop singers.
of or pertaining to pop art.
reflecting or aimed at the tastes of the general masses of people:pop culture; pop novels.
music of general appeal, esp among young people, that originated as a distinctive genre in the 1950s. It is generally characterized by a strong rhythmic element and the use of electrical amplification
(as modifier): pop music, a pop record, a pop group
informala piece of popular or light classical music