v. & n.
v. (hopped, hopping) 1 intr. (of a bird, frog, etc.) spring with two or all feet at once. 2 intr. (of a person) jump on one foot. 3 tr. cross (a ditch etc.) by hopping. 4 intr. colloq. a make a quick trip. b make a quick change of position or location. 5 tr. colloq. a jump into (a vehicle). b obtain (a ride) in this way. 6 tr. (usu. as hopping n.) (esp. of aircraft) pass quickly from one (place of a specified type) to another (cloud-hopping; hedge-hopping).
n. 1 a hopping movement. 2 colloq. an informal dance. 3 a short flight in an aircraft; the distance travelled by air without landing; a stage of a flight or journey. hop in (or out) colloq. get into (or out of) a car etc. hop it Brit. sl. go away. hopping mad colloq. very angry. hop, skip (or step), and jump = triple jump. hop the twig (or stick) sl. 1 depart suddenly. 2 die. on the hop colloq. 1 unprepared (caught on the hop). 2 bustling about.
[ OE hoppian ]