prop

C1 Topic:Film & Television

US /pɹɑp/ UK /pɹɒp/ See IPA manual

Freq #9840

Meanings

1

noun
An object used by actors on a stage or film set.

The fake sword was just a prop made of painted plastic.
2

noun
An object used to support or hold something up.

He slid a wooden prop under the sagging shelf.
3

verb
To support or hold something up so it does not fall.

Try using a book to prop up the wobbly table leg.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with prop

prop up Phrasal verb C1

to support something by placing a solid object against or beneath it

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an object used by actors on... property

2 noun · an object used to support... support

3 verb · to support or hold... support shore up

Word family

Forms proppedproppingprops

Derived forms clothes-propclothespropprop-jetproplegproplesspropmakerpropmasterproppageproppantrpropperproppypropstick

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

prop up
to support something by placing a solid object against or beneath it

Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Middle English proppe (“a prop, support, support for a vine or plant”), from Middle Dutch proppe (“support, support for a vine, stopper for a bottle”). Compare Middle Low German proppe (“plug, stopper”), German Pfropfen (“plug”), Danish prop (“plug, stopper”).

proppe Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Film & Television Theater & Performance General Vocabulary

External links

# prop

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /pɹɑp/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹɒp/
**Frequency rank:** 9840

## Meanings
1. An object used by actors on a stage or film set.
2. An object used to support or hold something up.
3. To support or hold something up so it does not fall.

## Examples
- The fake sword was just a prop made of painted plastic.
- He slid a wooden prop under the sagging shelf.
- Try using a book to prop up the wobbly table leg.

## Derived Forms
- clothes-prop
- clothesprop
- prop-jet
- propleg
- propless
- propmaker
- propmaster
- proppage
- proppantr
- propper
- proppy
- propstick

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: proppe

## Etymology
From Middle English proppe (“a prop, support, support for a vine or plant”), from Middle Dutch proppe (“support, support for a vine, stopper for a bottle”). Compare Middle Low German proppe (“plug, stopper”), German Pfropfen (“plug”), Danish prop (“plug, stopper”).

## AI Etymology
Prop is from Middle English proppe (“a prop, support, support for a vine or plant”), from Middle Dutch proppe (“support, support for a vine, stopper for a bottle”). Compare Middle Low German proppe (“plug, stopper”), German Pfropfen (“plug”), Danish prop (“plug, stopper”). In present-day use, it can mean an object used by actors on a stage or film set, or an object used to support or hold something up. Derived formations include clothes-prop, clothesprop, prop-jet, propleg, propless.

## Topics
- Film & Television
- Theater & Performance
- General Vocabulary

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