prop1 verbprop2 noun
propprop1 /prɒp $ prɑːp/ verb (past tense and past participle propped, present participle propping) [transitive always + adverb/preposition] 
VERB TABLE
prop
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | prop |
| he, she, it | props | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | propped |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have propped |
| he, she, it | has propped | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had propped |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will prop |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have propped |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am propping |
| he, she, it | is propping | |
| you, we, they | are propping | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was propping |
| you, we, they | were propping | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been propping |
| he, she, it | has been propping | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been propping |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be propping |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been propping |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- An old guitar lay propped against a wall.
- He propped his bicycle against the fence and ran inside.
- Anushkia Smyslov had bandaged Alex Bannen's head, and the physicist was propped in a sitting position against a workstation.
- As soon as the infant Arthur was old enough to be propped against the proscenium arch, he was included in the turn.
- Duncan had left Myeloski propping up the bar, drinking his customary vodka and Budweiser chaser.
- Nurse Bells had propped him upright and he looked alert and interested.
- She remembered him propped up by the nurses, waving his little hands about.
- The President was propped up in bed.
- They prop up prices for growers by controlling production rather than through federal subsidies.
- They are trying to prop up the tumbling stockmarket by cutting the supply of new issues.
Longman Language Activatorto put something in a sloping position
to put something in a sloping position so that it is against a wall or other surface and is supported by it: · She leaned the ladder against the house and climbed up to the window.lean something (up) against something: · Soldiers leaned their M-16 rifles up against their tables as they ate.
to put something against a surface so that it is supported by it: rest something on/against something: · She slid down in her chair and rested her head on the back of the seat.· Resting his spade against the wall, he went to help Michael light the fire.
to lean something in an almost upright position against something such as a wall: stand something against/in etc: · Maggie stood her bicycle against the wall of the shed.· Just stand it in the corner, so it doesn't fall.
to lean something against a wall or other surface, especially quickly and for a short time: prop something against something: · He propped his bicycle against the fence and ran inside.stand/lie propped against something: · An old guitar lay propped against a wall.
something that is used to support something else an object or structure that is used to support the weight of something else: · Tall plants need supports to stop them being blown down.· The supports for the roof had fallen down, and the roof hung down on one side.
a wooden stick or other object that is placed under something to support it: · The pit props were placed only a foot or two apart, to support a mile of rock above them.· The clothes prop had fallen down, and the washing was trailing in the mud.
to support something or someone so that they do not fall down · Unfortunately, the branch was too weak to support his weight.· The ceiling was supported by huge stone columns.· Sitting at a table in the coffee shop, her chin supported by her hands, she was deep in thought.· Her body was so weak that she had to be supported by two nurses.
to support the weight of something and prevent it from falling down. Hold up is more informal than support: hold up something: · We can't knock that wall down. It's the one that holds up the house.· These poles hold up the outer part of the tent.hold something up: · Why don't we use some of these pieces of wood to hold it up?· The only thing holding the wall up was a frail-looking section of scaffolding.
formal to support all the weight of something, especially something heavy: · The baby's narrow neck looked too fragile to bear the weight of its head.· The tunnel would have needed to be extremely strong to bear the full weight of the earth above.
if something carries a particular weight, it is able to support it, especially because it has been designed to: · The bridge could only carry up to two cars at a time.· The pillars have been specially strengthened in order to carry the weight of the new ceiling.· Front tyres tend to go down more quickly than back ones, because they carry more weight.
to support the weight of someone or something - use this especially to say whether or not something is strong enough to do this: · I hope the ice is strong enough to take my weight.· I'm not sure if this table can take the weight of all these books.
to stop something from falling by putting something else against it or under it: prop up something: · The builders have propped up the walls with steel beams.prop something up: · I sat down and propped my feet up on the edge of the desk.
to support something such as a wall or a building that has been damaged or is in bad condition by putting big pieces of wood or metal against it: shore up something: · The fence was shored up with sheets of old iron.shore something up: · Our huts were falling down, so we used branches to shore them up.
to use something to support yourself to support your body or part of your body by putting it on or against a surface such as a wall or a table: lean against: · Joe was leaning against the school wall, smoking a cigarette.lean on: · She leaned on the railings and looked out at the sea.lean your head/arms/elbows etc on: · It's sometimes considered bad manners to lean your elbows on the table when you're eating.lean back on/against something: · I leaned back on the pillows and closed my eyes.
to support your body or part of your body by putting it lightly on or against something: rest on: · Her head rested gently on his shoulder.· John rested his head on the back of the car-seat.rest against: · I rested against a wall for a minute in order to tie up my shoe laces.
to help yourself stand or sit straight by supporting your body against something, especially when you are ill or injured: · The soldier tried to prop himself up again using his crutches.prop yourself up against/on: · I propped myself up against a wall and took a deep breath.
to prevent yourself from falling by using a stick or by holding onto someone or something, especially because you are injured or weak: · They walked out together, the old man supporting himself with his stick.· Jessica managed to support herself by putting her arm around Gary's neck.
if you use something such as a stick or another person for support , you use it or hold onto them in order to prevent yourself from falling: · As he fell over he grabbed at the table for support.· She moved towards Andrew, seeking his arm for support.· He's able to walk around on his own now, although he has to use a cane for support.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Can we prop the window open with something?COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Can we prop the window open with something?· There are no curtains to soften its edges and the pelmet is propped up by the bookcase.· She lies on her back, her body propped up with pillows, fluids dripping through tubes into her veins.· She remembered him propped up by the nurses, waving his little hands about.· I hauled my bargain table outside and propped up the cardboard three-books-for-a-buck sign.· Dennis and the others were propping up the bar, Karen was supposedly selecting duty-free perfume.· They frequently can be seen perched on a rock and propped up on their ventral fins as if surveying their little world.· Poorly managed and with low yields, it was propped up with a huge loan from the estate's trustees.· Cathleen Schine propped up in bed.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
to support something by leaning it against something, or by putting something else under, next to, or behind itprop something against/on something- I propped myself up against a wall and took a deep breath.
- The soldier tried to prop himself up again using his crutches.
- Bernice propped herself up and took a bite.
- Brian propped himself up on his elbows, suddenly remembering that the alarm had gone off.
- He props himself up on one elbow.
- Hefinished the last rep and propped himself up on his elbows.
- I could see Peter shaking his head in the fairway, as he propped himself up on his sand wedge.
- Rufus had propped himself up on one elbow, watching.
- She stretched and propped herself up on an elbow, aware that something was not quite right.
- We're full of doubts and we try to prop each other up.
He propped his bike against a tree. Can we prop the window open with something?prop something ↔ up phrasal verb1to prevent something from falling by putting something against it or under it: The builders are trying to prop up the crumbling walls of the church.prop up against paintings propped up against the wall2to help an economy, industry, or government so that it can continue to exist, especially by giving money: The government introduced measures to prop up the stock market.3prop yourself up to hold your body up by leaning against somethingprop up on/against/with She propped herself up on one elbow.prop1 verbprop2 noun
propprop2 noun [countable] 1an object placed under or against something to hold it in a particular position2[usually plural] a small object such as a book, weapon etc, used by actors in a play or film: Anna looks after costumes and props. stage props3something or someone that helps you to feel strong: She was becoming an emotional prop for him.4informal a propeller5 (also prop forward) one of the players in a rugby team, who is large and strong and holds up the scrum