dope
dope / dōp/ • n. 1. inf. a drug taken illegally for recreational purposes, esp. marijuana or heroin. ∎ a drug given to a racehorse or greyhound to inhibit or enhance its performance. ∎ a drug taken by an athlete to improve performance: [as adj.] he failed a dope test. 2. inf. a stupid person: though he wasn't an intellectual giant, he was no dope, either.3. inf. information about a subject, esp. if not generally known: our reviewer will give you the dope on hot spots around the town.4. a varnish applied to the fabric surface of model aircraft to strengthen them and keep them airtight. ∎ a thick liquid used as a lubricant.• v. [tr.] 1. administer drugs to (a racehorse, greyhound, or athlete) in order to inhibit or enhance sporting performance: the horse was doped before the race. ∎ (be doped up) inf. be heavily under the influence of drugs, typically illegal ones: he was so doped up that he can't remember a thing. ∎ treat (food or drink) with drugs: maybe they had doped her Perrier. ∎ [intr.] inf., dated regularly take illegal drugs.2. smear or cover with varnish or other thick liquid: she doped the surface with photographic emulsion.3. Electr. add an impurity to (a semiconductor) to produce a desired electrical characteristic.• adj. black slang very good: that suit is dope!PHRASAL VERBS: dope something out inf., dated work out something: they met to dope out plans for covering the event.DERIVATIVES: dop·er n.ORIGIN: early 19th cent. (in the sense ‘thick liquid’): from Dutch doop ‘sauce,’ from doopen ‘to dip, mix.’