lop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Technical (in forestry/gardening)
Quick answer
What does “lop” mean?
To cut off branches, twigs, or other parts from something (especially a tree or plant) with a quick, heavy blow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cut off branches, twigs, or other parts from something (especially a tree or plant) with a quick, heavy blow.
1. To remove or eliminate parts as unnecessary or excessive. 2. To hang loosely or limply; to droop.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The primary cutting sense is used in both. The 'hang loosely' sense is slightly more common in British English, especially in compounds like 'lop-eared' (rabbit).
Connotations
In both, it can imply careless or heavy-handed cutting if not in a technical context.
Frequency
Overall low frequency in both, but likely higher in UK due to gardening/horticulture traditions.
Grammar
How to Use “lop” in a Sentence
SVO (He lopped the branch)SVOA (He lopped the branch off with an axe)SVO + particle (He lopped off the dead wood)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to lop that overhanging branch before it damages the fence.
- He lopped a good two seconds off his personal best.
- The budget cuts will lop millions from the department.
American English
- They're going to lop off the lower limbs of the pine tree.
- She lopped several unnecessary tasks from her to-do list.
- The editor lopped three paragraphs from the article.
adverb
British English
- The branch hung lop over the garden path.
American English
- His hat sat lop on his head.
adjective
British English
- The rabbit was a lovely, lop-eared breed.
- After the storm, the fence posts stood at a lop angle.
American English
- They adopted a lop-eared bunny from the shelter.
- The old sign hung lop from one rusty hinge.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically, e.g., 'The new CEO lopped off unprofitable divisions.'
Academic
Rare. May appear in historical texts on forestry or agriculture.
Everyday
Gardening, DIY projects, metaphorical use for cutting budgets/lists.
Technical
Arboriculture, forestry (lopping as a specific cutting technique).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lop”
- Using 'lop' without 'off' for the cutting sense (less common). Confusing 'lop' (cut) with 'lob' (throw in a high arc).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its primary use is for plants, it's commonly used metaphorically for cutting down lists, budgets, time, or other abstract quantities (e.g., 'lop £10 off the price').
'Lop' suggests a heavier, less careful cut, often removing larger parts. 'Prune' is more deliberate and skilled, for plant health. 'Trim' is lighter, for neatening or shaping.
No, it's generally informal or technical. In formal gardening/arboriculture contexts, more specific terms like 'dismantle', 'crown reduce', or 'pollard' might be preferred.
It means uneven, unbalanced, or with one side lower or heavier than the other. It derives from the 'drooping' sense of 'lop'.
To cut off branches, twigs, or other parts from something (especially a tree or plant) with a quick, heavy blow.
Lop: in British English it is pronounced /lɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /lɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lop and top (to cut off the branches and top of a felled tree)”
- “lop-eared (having drooping ears)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LOP sounds like CHOP. Imagine a lumberjack shouting 'LOP!' with each heavy chop of his axe.
Conceptual Metaphor
REMOVAL IS CUTTING (e.g., lopping items from a list); INEFFICIENCY IS DROOPING (lop-sided, lop-eared).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'lop' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?