bop

UK: /bɒp/ US: /bɑp/ ,(bop)

Inflections of 'bop' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

bops

v 3rd person singular

bopping

v pres p

bopped

v past

bopped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bop¹ /bɑp/   n., v., bopped, bop•ping. 
n. [uncountable]

1. Music and Dance Also called bebop. jazz music characterized by dissonant harmonies, fast speeds, and complex rhythms and melodies.

v. [no object]

2. to dance to bop music.
3. Slang Terms Slang. to move, go, or proceed:
   They bopped down the street.

bop² /bɑp/   v., bopped, bop•ping, n. Slang.
v. [~ + object]

1. to strike, as with the fist or a stick;
   hit:
   cartoon characters bopping each other on the head.

n. [countable]

2. a blow:
   a few bops on the head.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bop¹  (bop), n., v., bopped, bop•ping. 
n. 

1. Music, Music and Dance Also called bebop. early modern jazz developed in the early 1940s and characterized by often dissonant triadic and chromatic chords, fast tempos and eccentric rhythms, intricate melodic lines punctuated by pop-tune phrases, and emphasizing the inventiveness of soloists. Cf. cool jazz, hard bop, modern jazz, progressive jazz.

v.i. 

2. Slang Terms to move, go, or proceed (often fol. by on down):
   Let's bop on down to the party.

• (be)bop 1945–50, American.

bop²  (bop), v., bopped, bop•ping, n. [Slang.]
v.t. 

1. to strike, as with the fist or a stick;
   hit.

n. 

2. a blow.

• variant of bob³ 1935–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bop / bɒp/ noun

1. a form of jazz originating in the 1940s, characterized by rhythmic and harmonic complexity and instrumental virtuosity
   Originally called: bebop

verb (bops, bopping, bopped)

1. (intransitive) to dance to pop music

Etymology: 20th Century: shortened from bebop

ˈbopper noun

bop / bɒp/ verb (bops, bopping, bopped)

1. (transitive) to strike; hit

noun

1. a blow

Etymology: 19th Century: of imitative origin