I. ˈdōp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Dutch doop sauce, from dopen to dip, baptize, from Middle Dutch dōpen; akin to Old High German toufen to baptize, Gothic daupjan to baptize, dip into, Old Norse deypa to dive, Old English dyppan to dip — more at dip
1.
a. : any of various thick liquid or pasty preparations (as formerly of pan drippings or gravy and more recently of grease for use as a lubricant)
pipe dope should be applied to the male end in making up a screwed joint
coated the water pipelines with a corrosive-resisting dope
b. : a lubricant for the bottoms of skis
c. : any of various cosmetic or medicinal preparations or insect repellents
dope for dry skin
2. : any of various additive substances or liquid preparations introduced into a substance or applied to a surface to contribute a desired quality: as
a. : a food adulterant
b. : a coating (as a cellulose lacquer) applied especially to a fabric (as of airplanes to produce tautness and increase strength or of balloons to increase gastightness)
c.
(1) : a syrupy liquid consisting chiefly of cellulose derivatives in solution from which the transparent support or backing of a sensitive film is made
(2) : a liquid preparation or varnish used to facilitate retouching, to block out parts of a negative, or to reduce reflection from the surface of a print
d. : a material (as an antiknock agent) added in small quantities to an internal-combustion fuel (as gasoline) to improve engine performance — called also fuel dope
e. : a light varnish added to lithographic ink to reduce the tack
3.
a. : absorbent or adsorbent material (as wood pulp or kieselguhr) used in certain manufacturing processes
active dope for dynamite
— compare base I 2b(1)
b. : absorbent material used in packing to reduce the effects of friction or to provide lubrication (as the oil-soaked cotton waste packed in the journal boxes of freight cars)
4.
a. : a preparation of opium or other narcotic or habit-forming drug (as cocaine, heroin, marihuana) especially as used for a certain initially pleasurable stimulating or stupefying effect
b. slang : a preparation (as of opium) given to a horse to depress or stimulate it temporarily (as before a race)
c. slang : an opium or narcotic addict
d. : a dull-witted, obtuse, or stupid person : nitwit
5. slang
a. : information, factual data, details, or comment concerning a particular subject especially when purporting to come from an informed source
the British Travel Association has a great deal of dope on this subject — Richard Joseph
b. : information or prediction concerning the progress or outcome of a situation or coming event
advance dope on military purchasing policies
6. South & Midland : a cola beverage
7. : a solution (as of cellulose acetate in acetone) for spinning synthetic fibers : a spinning bath — called also spinning dope
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to smear or lubricate with dope
ready with snowshoes thoroughly doped
b. : to apply dope to (as the fabric of an airplane or balloon)
2.
a. : to introduce an adulterant into (a food) or an additive into (a fluid)
a compound for doping the fluid of a battery
b. : to treat or impregnate with a foreign substance to impart a desired appearance or property : doctor
prepare leather for tanning by doping it with fatty compounds
ways of doping a used car to hide its faults
samples of germanium doped with iron and cobalt
3.
a. : to give a stupefying or exhilarating drug to : drug
b. : to put a stupefying drug into
knocked out by doped wine
c. : to administer a drug to (a horse) to increase or decrease speed in a race
d. : to induce inaction, apathy, or submissiveness in by a mental diet designed to produce such qualities or attitudes
keep them in submissive slavery by doping them with promises of bliss after death — G.B.Shaw
4. slang : to work out from one's interpretation of available information a forecast about the outcome of (a competition) or the performance or placing of (competitors)
busy doping the day's horses
intransitive verb
: to indulge in or be addicted to a narcotic