pop¹ / päp/ • v. (popped, pop·ping) 1. [intr.] make a sudden, sharp, explosive sound: corks popped, glasses tinkled, and delicate canapés were served. ∎  [tr.] cause (something) to burst, making such a sound: they were popping balloons with darts. ∎  (of a person's ears) make a small popping sound within the head as pressure is equalized, typically because of a change of altitude. ∎  [tr.] heat (popcorn or another foodstuff) until it bursts open, making such a sound. ∎  [intr.] (of popcorn or another foodstuff) burst open in such a way. ∎  (of a person's eyes) bulge or appear to bulge when opened wide, esp. as an indication of surprise. ∎  [tr.] shoot (a gun). ∎  [tr.] shoot (something) with a gun.2. [intr.] go somewhere, typically for a short time and often without notice: she popped in to see if she could help. ∎  [tr.] put or move (something) somewhere quickly: he popped his head around the door.3. [intr.] Baseball (of a batter) hit a pop fly. ∎  [tr.] (of a pitcher) cause (a batter) to pop up.4. [tr.] inf. take or inject (a drug): people who obsessively drink and pop pills.• n. 1. a sudden sharp explosive sound: at first there were just a few pops, perhaps from pistols.2. inf. short for soda pop.3. (also pop fly or pop-up) Baseball a ball hit high in the air but not deep, providing an easy catch.4. an attempt: he grabs with a paw and hooks about two hundred berries at a pop.• adv. with a sudden explosive sound: the champagne went pop.• adj. sudden or unexpected: a pop quiz on the capitals of South America.PHRASES: —— a pop inf. costing a specified amount per item: those swimsuits she wears are $50 a pop.make someone's eyes pop (out) inf. cause great astonishment to someone.pop for something pay for something, esp. a treat for someone else: I popped for the first three tolls.pop the question inf. propose marriage.PHRASAL VERBS: pop off inf. 1. die.2. speak spontaneously and at length, typically angrily: I've been thinking about it a lot—I don't want you to imagine I'm just popping off.pop out make an out in a baseball game by hitting a pop fly that is caught.pop up1. appear or occur suddenly and unexpectedly: these memories can pop up from time to time.2. hit a baseball high into the air but not deep, providing an easy catch: in three at bats, he struck out twice and popped up.pop² • adj. 1. of or relating to commercial popular music: a pop star a pop group. ∎  of, denoting, or relating to pop art.2. often derog. (esp. of a technical, scientific, or academic subject) made accessible to the general public; popularized: pop psychology.• n. (also pop music) commercial popular music, in particular accessible, tuneful music of a kind popular since the 1950s and sometimes contrasted with rock, soul, or other forms of popular music. ∎ dated a pop record or song.pop³ (also pops) • n. informal term for father.

POP / päp/ (also PoP) • abbr. (in computing) point of presence, denoting equipment that acts as access to the Internet. ∎  point of purchase, denoting products or promotions located adjacent to a retail checkout or cashier.

pop. Abbreviation for ‘popular’. Earlier meaning meant concerts appealing to a wide audience. The London Popular Concerts were founded by Benedict in 1858 and continued until 1898. Since the late 1950s, however, pop has had the special meaning of non-classical mus., usually in the form of songs, perf. by such artists as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Abba, etc. Thus ‘pop groups’ (performers of pop, usually singer(s), guitars, drums, sometimes sophisticated elec. effects), and ‘pop festivals’.

POP Acronym for post office protocol. The protocol that defines the communication between a utility that can accept electronic mail on behalf of a user, holding it until such time as the user wishes to recover the messages. See message store.

pop1 sb., vb., int., and adv., of imit. orig. The earliest uses (XIV), surviving dial., of sb. and vb. have reference to rapping or knocking; not recorded for abrupt explosive sound before XVI; vb. put, move suddenly XVI; (sl.) pawn XVIII; pop the question XVIII; sb. effervescing beverage XIX. comps. pop-corn for popped corn XIX (U.S.); pop-eyed, pop-eyes (having) prominent eyes XIX; pop-gun XVII; popping-crease (cricket) XVIII.