Library / English Dictionary

STOOP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An inclination of the top half of the body forward and downward

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("stoop" is a kind of...):

inclination; inclining (the act of inclining; bending forward)

Derivation:

stoop (carry oneself, often habitually, with head, shoulders, and upper back bent forward)

stoop (bend one's back forward from the waist on down)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house

Synonyms:

stoep; stoop

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("stoop" is a kind of...):

porch (a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Basin for holy water

Synonyms:

stoop; stoup

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("stoop" is a kind of...):

basin (a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Carry oneself, often habitually, with head, shoulders, and upper back bent forward

Example:

The old man was stooping but he could walk around without a cane

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "stoop" is one way to...):

bear; carry; hold (support or hold in a certain manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

stoop (an inclination of the top half of the body forward and downward)

stooper (a person who carries himself or herself with the head and shoulders habitually bent forward)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Sag, bend, bend over or down

Example:

the rocks stooped down over the hiking path

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "stoop" is one way to...):

incline; pitch; slope (be at an angle)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

stooper (a person who carries himself or herself with the head and shoulders habitually bent forward)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Bend one's back forward from the waist on down

Example:

The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse

Synonyms:

bend; bow; crouch; stoop

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "stoop" is one way to...):

bend; flex (form a curve)

"Stoop" entails doing...:

change posture (undergo a change in bodily posture)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stoop"):

squinch (crouch down)

cower; huddle (crouch or curl up)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

stoop to (make concessions to)

Derivation:

stoop (an inclination of the top half of the body forward and downward)

stooper (a person who carries himself or herself with the head and shoulders habitually bent forward)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Descend swiftly, as if on prey

Example:

The eagle stooped on the mice in the field

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "stoop" is one way to...):

pounce; swoop (move down on as if in an attack)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sense 5

Meaning:

Debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way

Example:

I won't stoop to reading other people's mail

Synonyms:

condescend; lower oneself; stoop

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "stoop" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Credits

 Context examples: 

The dog-musher, still on his knees and stooped over White Fang, calculated for a moment.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“Shall I sign here?” he asked, stooping over the table.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I stooped over him and examined him.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Liar!” cried the woman; and, stooping her head, she suddenly bit fiercely into the broad brown hand which held her.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was plain that he could have no serious views, no true attachment, by fixing himself in a situation which he must know she would never stoop to.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Thank God that you never had to stoop to it, Mary.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She had seemed more sensible of Mr. Elton's being to stoop in marrying her, than she now seemed of Mr. Knightley's.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Often he stooped and picked pale muskeg berries, put them into his mouth, and chewed and swallowed them.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

A progressive disorder of the nervous system marked by muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, decreased mobility, stooped posture, slow voluntary movements, and a mask-like facial expression.

(Parkinson's Disease, NCI Dictionary)

A question about bending, kneeling, or stooping.

(Bending, Kneeling, or Stooping, NCI Thesaurus)