'Drop by drop' definitions:

Definition of 'Drop by drop'

From: GCIDE
  • Drop \Drop\ (dr[o^]p), n. [OE. drope, AS. dropa; akin to OS. dropo, D. drop, OHG. tropo, G. tropfen, Icel. dropi, Sw. droppe; and Fr. AS. dre['o]pan to drip, drop; akin to OS. driopan, D. druipen, OHG. triofan, G. triefen, Icel. drj[=u]pa. Cf. Drip, Droop.]
  • 1. The quantity of fluid which falls in one small spherical mass; a liquid globule; a minim; hence, also, the smallest easily measured portion of a fluid; a small quantity; as, a drop of water. [1913 Webster]
  • With minute drops from off the eaves. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. -- Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • That drop of peace divine. --Keble. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which resembles, or that which hangs like, a liquid drop; as a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a chandelier, a sugarplum (sometimes medicated), or a kind of shot or slug. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Arch.) (a) Same as Gutta. (b) Any small pendent ornament. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated position; also, a contrivance for lowering something; as: (a) A door or platform opening downward; a trap door; that part of the gallows on which a culprit stands when he is to be hanged; hence, the gallows itself. (b) A machine for lowering heavy weights, as packages, coal wagons, etc., to a ship's deck. (c) A contrivance for temporarily lowering a gas jet. (d) A curtain which drops or falls in front of the stage of a theater, etc. (e) A drop press or drop hammer. (f) (Mach.) The distance of the axis of a shaft below the base of a hanger. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. pl. Any medicine the dose of which is measured by drops; as, lavender drops. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Naut.) The depth of a square sail; -- generally applied to the courses only. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Act of dropping; sudden fall or descent. [1913 Webster]
  • Ague drop, Black drop. See under Ague, Black.
  • Drop by drop, in small successive quantities; in repeated portions. "Made to taste drop by drop more than the bitterness of death." --Burke.
  • Drop curtain. See Drop, n., 4. (d) .
  • Drop forging. (Mech.) (a) A forging made in dies by a drop hammer. (b) The process of making drop forgings.
  • Drop hammer (Mech.), a hammer for forging, striking up metal, etc., the weight being raised by a strap or similar device, and then released to drop on the metal resting on an anvil or die.
  • Drop kick (Football), a kick given to the ball as it rebounds after having been dropped from the hands.
  • Drop lake, a pigment obtained from Brazil wood. --Mollett.
  • Drop letter, a letter to be delivered from the same office where posted.
  • Drop press (Mech.), a drop hammer; sometimes, a dead-stroke hammer; -- also called drop.
  • Drop scene, a drop curtain on which a scene is painted. See Drop, n., 4. (d) .
  • Drop seed. (Bot.) See the List under Glass.
  • Drop serene. (Med.) See Amaurosis. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Drop by drop'