What does lopped mean?
Lopped is the past tense and past participle of lop, a verb meaning to cut or remove something, especially branches, parts of a tree, or excess material. It is also used for trimming hair short or cutting it unevenly, and more generally for severing or removing something. The word carries a practical, often slightly rough implication: the action is usually performed with shears, secateurs, or another cutting tool, and the result may leave a cut surface or an uneven outline. Gardeners commonly use “lopped” when describing branches removed from trees or shrubs, while people may say that hair has been “lopped” when it has been cut shorter than desired. Because the word suggests a deliberate cutting rather than a smooth, polished finish, it can imply that something has been reduced abruptly or without careful refinement.
verbTo cut off or remove branches, a part of something, or excess material, especially with a sharp tool. It can also mean to trim something, such as hair, short or unevenly.
- To cut off or remove branches, limbs, or other parts from something.
- To trim or cut something, especially hair, short or unevenly.
- To remove or sever something, often in a figurative or informal context.
"The gardener lopped the branches from the old apple tree."
"He lopped a few branches from the tree to let more light reach the garden."
"The stylist lopped her hair above her shoulders."
A tree can be lopped bare in minutes, but the word also describes hair trimmed short enough to show its shape—or lack of it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lopped come from?
The word comes from the Middle English verb loppen, which referred to cutting or trimming and was especially associated with cutting branches or vegetation. Its exact ultimate origin is uncertain, although the verb appears to belong to a Germanic family of words connected with cutting or removing branches.
Related word forms
How lopped is actually used
The verb is commonly used for cutting branches or trimming vegetation and can sound practical or informal when describing the removal of a part of something. In figurative use, it often suggests abrupt or incomplete removal.