n. & v.
n. 1 a the produce of cultivated plants, esp. cereals. b the season's total yield of this (a good crop). 2 a group or an amount produced or appearing at one time (this year's crop of students). 3 (in full hunting crop) the stock or handle of a whip. 4 a a style of hair cut very short. b the cropping of hair. 5 Zool. a the pouch in a bird's gullet where food is prepared for digestion. b a similar organ in other animals. 6 the entire tanned hide of an animal. 7 a piece cut off or out of something.
v. (cropped, cropping) 1 tr. a cut off. b (of animals) bite off (the tops of plants). 2 tr. cut (hair, cloth, edges of a book, etc.) short. 3 tr. gather or reap (produce). 4 tr. (foll. by with) sow or plant (land) with a crop. 5 intr. (of land) bear a crop. crop-dusting the sprinkling of powdered insecticide or fertilizer on crops, esp. from the air. crop-eared having the ears (esp. of animals) or hair cut short. crop-full having a full crop or stomach. crop out Geol. appear at the surface. crop-over a W. Indian celebration marking the end of the sugar-cane harvest. crop up 1 (of a subject, circumstance, etc.) appear or come to one's notice unexpectedly. 2 Geol. appear at the surface.
[ OE crop(p) ]