needle drop

noun

plural needle drops

1

: the dropping of needles by a conifer (such as a spruce, yew, or pine)

Fall needle drop occurs each year …

—Deborah Brown

2

: a popular song used in a film or television show for dramatic effect

… heavy metal needle drops add a flourish to sword fights …

—Robert Daniels

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

needle-drop scores

Examples of needle drop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This episode is a highlight, featuring needle drops by Can, Einstürzende Neubauten, and Laura Marling. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026

Gunn brought his signature blend of heart, humor, and needle drops, delivering an entertaining blockbuster that stood in clear contrast to the excessively dark DC films of the 2010s. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 Oct. 2026

With her Democratic Socialists of America sass, bright amethyst blazers and Bollywood needle drops on Instagram, the lifelong Angeleno cuts a stark contrast to her rival, Deputy Dist. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

His resume includes the perfect on-screen needle drops for series Green Leaf, The Chi, Power, and now, A Different World. — Elise Brisco, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for needle drop

• barbershop
• countertop
• lollipop
• mountaintop
• photoshop
• tabletop
• turboprop
• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop