Hopping

HOP

abbr.

high oxygen pressure

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hop ¹  (hp)

v. hopped, hop·ping, hops

v.intr.

1.

a. To move with light bounding skips or leaps.

b. Informal To move quickly or busily: The shipping department is hopping this week.

2. To jump on one foot.

3. To make a quick trip, especially in an airplane.

4. To travel or move often from place to place. Often used in combination: party-hop.

v.tr.

1. To move over by hopping: hop a ditch two feet wide.

2. Informal To jump aboard: hop a freight train.

n.

1.

a. A light springy jump or leap, especially on one foot.

b. A rebound: The ball took a bad hop.

2. Informal A dance or dance party.

3.

a. A short distance.

b. A short trip, especially by air.

4. A free ride; a lift.

Idioms:

hop, skip, and (a) jump

A short distance.

hop to it

To begin an activity or a task quickly and energetically.

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[Middle English hoppen, from Old English hoppian.]

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hop ²  (hp)

n.

1. A twining vine (Humulus lupulus) having lobed leaves and green female flowers arranged in conelike spikes.

2. hops The dried ripe flowers of this plant, containing a bitter aromatic oil. They are used in the brewing industry to prevent bacterial action and add the characteristic bitter taste to beer.

3. Slang Opium.

tr.v. hopped, hop·ping, hops

To flavor with hops.

Phrasal Verb:

hop up Slang

1. To increase the power or energy of: hop up a car.

2. To stimulate with or as if with a narcotic.

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[Middle English hoppe, from Middle Dutch.]

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Hopping of frogs: company of frogs—New York Times, 1983.