/ bɒp; NAmE bɑːp/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] ( BrE , informal ) a dance to pop music; a social event at which people dance to pop music
2.
[ U ] = bebop
■ verb ( -pp- )
1.
[ v ] ( BrE , informal ) to dance to pop music
2.
[ vn ] to hit sb lightly
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun and verb sense 1 1940s: shortening of bebop .
verb sense 2 1930s (originally US): imitative.