hops plural: the ripe dried female cone-like flower clusters of a north-temperate zone twining plant (Humulus lupulus) of the hemp family used especially to impart a bitter flavor to beer
2
plural hops: the perennial climbing bine from which hops are obtained that have 3- to 5-lobed leaves and inconspicuous flowers of which the pistillate ones are in scaly cone-like clusters
Verb (1)
a rabbit hopped across the frozen grass
the frog hopped back into the pond
the bus stopped, a lone passenger hopped on, and the driver continued on his way Noun (1)
back in those days taking someone to the school hop was a big deal
she made it across the rocky creek in two hops
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Verb
From choosing the right spot to nap, to hopping on the grass, the clip perfectly captures the way both pups feel about one another.—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025 Diggs has been island hopping this year, having also traveled to Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for a solo birthday celebration in January.—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 24 June 2025
Noun
The central banker's comments on the interest rate outlook caught the attention of financial markets, where stock prices got a hop and futures markets bolstered what are still low odds the central bank will cut rates when the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee meets at the end of July.—Michael S. Derby, USA Today, 24 June 2025 The family is hoping to visit a total of 12 countries together in 2025 on single-day hops from England.—CNN Money, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for hop
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English hoppen, from Old English hoppian
Noun (2)
Middle English hoppe, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German hopfo hop
: a twining plant (Humulus lupulus) of the hemp family with 3-lobed or 5-lobed leaves and inconspicuous flowers of which the pistillate ones are in cone-like clusters
2
hops plural: the ripe dried female cone-like flower clusters of a hop plant used especially to impart a bitter flavor to beer and also in medicine as a tonic
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