I. ˈprep noun
( -s )
Etymology: short for preparation
1. Britain
a. : preparation of study assignments : homework
I may stay for three-quarters of an hour, and then I must go and do my prep — Archibald Marshall
b. : a specific time or place set aside for study
supposed to superintend tea and evening prep — H.G.Wells
collected their books and went into prep — Hugh MacLennan
2.
[short for preparatory (I) ]
a. : preparatory school
b. : a preparatory school student
3. : the act or an instance of preparing a patient for a surgical operation
the floor nurse had three preps to do
4. horse racing : a trial run
II. verb
( prepped ; prepped ; prepping ; preps )
intransitive verb
1. : to attend preparatory school
the place where he prepped for college
2. : to engage in preparatory study or training
entered medical school to prep for the study of psychiatry — Gilbert McKean
prepped for his new post abroad
transitive verb
1. : to prepare for an examination, assignment, or course of study
youths of higher mental caliber but not as well prepped — Newsweek
2. : to prepare for a surgical operation
an orderly came in to prep him for the appendectomy
III. abbreviation
1. preparation; preparatory; prepare
2. preposition