I. ˈläp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English loppe, of unknown origin
: the smaller branches and twigs (as of a tree) that have been cut off : trimmings ; especially : such parts of a tree that are not measured for timber
the timber merchant who bought the trees did not wish to take away the lop and top — H.C.W.Bouring
II. verb
( lopped ; lopped ; lopping ; lops )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cut off branches or twigs from (as a tree or vine) : remove dead parts or superfluous growth from : trim
b. archaic : to cut off the head or limbs of (a person)
2.
a. : to cut (as branches or twigs) from a tree or bush — often used with off
cut down the small tree and lopped the branches off — W.H.Hudson †1922
b. : to cut (the limbs or head) from a person
lops the head of his enemy into a wine cask — Burke Wilkinson
— often used with off
the hasty decision to lop off part of a limb — C.L.Boltz
c. : to cut (as a portion or part) from something
decided to lop the dog's tail
— often used with off
lopped off the border provinces of the empire
3. : to remove especially superfluous parts from : eliminate as unnecessary, superfluous, or undesirable — usually used with off
about 100,000 jobs … have been lopped off the federal payroll — Daniel Bell
lopped off a billion dollars in excise revenues — U.S. News & World Report
intransitive verb
: to perform the action of cutting off
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English loppe, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish loppa flea; perhaps akin to Old Norse hlaupa to jump, leap — more at leap
dialect England : flea
IV. intransitive verb
( lopped ; lopped ; lopping ; lops )
Etymology: perhaps imitative
1. : to hang downward especially in a loose or limp manner : flop or sway about loosely : droop
2. : to move or act in a lazy and usually slouching manner
3. : to move with short leaps : bound
a rabbit … lopped among the darkening cabbages — H.E.Bates
used to lop around in the gymnasium after badminton or handball — Dorothy Baker
V. adjective
Etymology: lop (IV)
: hanging down : pendent
lop ears
VI. noun
Etymology: lop (V)
1. usually capitalized : a variety or breed of domestic rabbits having very large ears that are usually too heavy to be carried erect and fall to the side of the head
2. -s often capitalized : a rabbit of the Lop breed
VII. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably imitative
: a condition of the sea in which the waves are short and choppy
VIII. intransitive verb
( lopped ; lopped ; lopping ; lops )
: to break in short choppy waves — used of the sea
the tide high and lopping rhythmically against the side — Darrell Berrigan