Drop /(drŏp)/

1. The quantity of fluid which falls in one small spherical mass; a liquid globule; a minim; hence, also, the smallest easily measured portion of a fluid; a small quantity; as, a drop of water.

   With minute drops from off the eaves.

   As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart.

   That drop of peace divine.

2. That which resembles, or that which hangs like, a liquid drop; as a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a chandelier, a sugarplum (sometimes medicated), or a kind of shot or slug.
3. Same as Gutta. (Arch.)
4. Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated position; also, a contrivance for lowering something (Mach.)
5. Any medicine the dose of which is measured by drops; as, lavender drops.
6. The depth of a square sail; -- generally applied to the courses only. (Naut.)
7. Act of dropping; sudden fall or descent.

imp. & p. p. Dropped; p. pr. & vb. n. Dropping

1. To pour or let fall in drops; to pour in small globules; to distill.

   The recording angel, as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word and blotted it out forever.

2. To cause to fall in one portion, or by one motion, like a drop; to let fall; as, to drop a line in fishing; to drop a courtesy.
3. To let go; to dismiss; to set aside; to have done with; to discontinue; to forsake; to give up; to omit.

   They suddenly drop't the pursuit.

   That astonishing ease with which fine ladies drop you and pick you up again.

   The connection had been dropped many years.

   Dropping the too rough H in Hell and Heaven.

4. To bestow or communicate by a suggestion; to let fall in an indirect, cautious, or gentle manner; as, to drop hint, a word of counsel, etc.
5. To lower, as a curtain, or the muzzle of a gun, etc.
6. To send, as a letter; as, please drop me a line, a letter, word.
7. To give birth to; as, to drop a lamb.
8. To cover with drops; to variegate; to bedrop.

   Show to the sun their waved coats dropped with gold.

1. To fall in drops.

   The kindly dew drops from the higher tree, And wets the little plants that lowly dwell.

2. To fall, in general, literally or figuratively; as, ripe fruit drops from a tree; wise words drop from the lips.

   Mutilations of which the meaning has dropped out of memory.

   When the sound of dropping nuts is heard.

3. To let drops fall; to discharge itself in drops.

   The heavens . . . dropped at the presence of God.

4. To fall dead, or to fall in death; as, dropping like flies.

   Nothing, says Seneca, so soon reconciles us to the thoughts of our own death, as the prospect of one friend after another dropping round us.

5. To come to an end; to cease; to pass out of mind; as, the affair dropped.
6. To come unexpectedly; -- with in or into; as, my old friend dropped in a moment.

   Takes care to drop in when he thinks you are just seated.

7. To fall or be depressed; to lower; as, the point of the spear dropped a little.
8. To fall short of a mark. [R.]

   Often it drops or overshoots by the disproportion of distance.

9. To be deep in extent; to descend perpendicularly; as, her main topsail drops seventeen yards.