sop

noun

\ ˈsäp

Definition of sop

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 chiefly dialectal : a piece of food dipped or steeped in a liquid

2 : a conciliatory or propitiatory bribe, gift, or gesture

sop

verb

sopped; sopping

Definition of sop (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to steep or dip in or as if in liquid

b : to wet thoroughly : soak

2 : mop sense 1

SOP

abbreviation

Definition of SOP (Entry 3 of 3)

standard operating procedure; standing operating procedure

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about sop

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Synonyms & Antonyms for sop

Synonyms: Noun

backhander [British], boodle, bribe, cumshaw, fix

Synonyms: Verb

drench, drown, impregnate, macerate, saturate, soak, sodden, souse, steep

Antonyms: Verb

wring (out)

Did You Know?

Noun

The etymology of sop takes us from bread to hellhounds to bribery. The journey starts over 900 years ago, when sop first referred to bread soaked in water, wine, or another liquid. Such soggy bread was considered a treat sure to tempt any appetite. Sops were considered so appealing that English translations of Virgil's Aeneid tell of a sibyl using one soaked in honey to distract and drug Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog of the gates of the underworld, so Aeneas could get by him safely. By the 1600s, that mythological use of sop had given rise to the expression give a sop to Cerberus, meaning "to bribe" and to using sop to refer to a bribe or conciliatory gift.

Examples of sop in a Sentence

Noun

as a sop to the teachers' union for supporting his reelection campaign, the mayor promised to push for the abolition of the residency requirement

Verb

sopped the sponge with the detergent and began scrubbing the floor vigorously my book fell in the swimming pool and was thoroughly sopped before I could fish it out

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Natives eat doubles for breakfast and as a sop for alcohol at night. — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, "Cane doubles the pleasures with chef-driven Caribbean cooking," 19 June 2019 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Shower-Fresh Strands Are Made for Sculpting Jaws collectively dropped at first sight of Burberry's taut, sopping wet knots with baby hairs intricately gelled to the forehead in dizzying patterns by hairstylist Guido Palau. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "5 Beauty Trends That Swept the London Runways This Week," 20 Feb. 2019 At Burberry, taut, sopping-wet knots featured baby hairs gelled intricately to the forehead, while both JW Anderson and Richard Quinn put forth glassy, sculptural coifs. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "9 Beauty Trends That Blew Up on the Fall 2019 Runways," 8 Mar. 2019 The goal is to keep the soil moist but not sopping wet, California Avocados recommends. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "How to Grow an Avocado Tree From a Pit," 29 Jan. 2019 Despite the bargain price, these rolls were thick and quick to sop up spills. — The Good Housekeeping Institute, Good Housekeeping, "Paper Towels," 5 Apr. 2012 Here's the best way to sop up the mess (and eliminate the lingering pee odor) on every surface. 1. — Heloise, Good Housekeeping, "How to Remove Cat Pee Odor," 18 Feb. 2015 Stow wet boots and shoes in a tray that sops up the moisture: a plain old baking sheet lined with cork. — Good Housekeeping, "Create a Handmade Boot Tray," 28 Jan. 2011 His 6-foot-6 frame was sopping wet from collecting shopping carts in the parking lot. — Michael Corkery, New York Times, "At Toys ‘R’ Us, ‘There Is Nothing Left’: The Day It Closed for Good," 30 June 2018 And while there’s, justly, an uptick in interest in refreshing skin tonics during the warmer months, when an astringent can sop up excess oil to control shine and prevent breakouts, toning is just as essential when the temperatures dip . . — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "This Overlooked Beauty Product Is the Secret to Healing Dry Skin," 22 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sop.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.