strop

UK: /strɒp/ US: /strɑp/ ,(strop)

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

strops

v 3rd person singular

stropping

v pres p

stropped

v past

stropped

v past p

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

strop /strɑp/   n., v., stropped, strop•ping. 
n. [countable]

1. a device for sharpening razors, esp. a strip of leather that is easily turned or twisted.

v. [~ + object]

2. Mechanical Engineering to sharpen on or as if on a strop:
   The barber stropped his razor before shaving his customer.

See -stroph-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

strop (strop),  n., v., stropped, strop•ping. 

n. 

1. any of several devices for sharpening razors, esp. a strip of leather or other flexible material.
2. Nautical, Naval Terms, Mechanical Engineering Also, strap. 
   • Mechanical Engineering a rope or a band of metal surrounding and supporting a block, deadeye, etc.
   • Mechanical Engineering a metal band surrounding the pulley of a block to transmit the load on the pulley to its hook or shackle.
   • Mechanical Engineering a rope sling, as for handling cargo.
   • Mechanical Engineering a ring or grommet of rope.

v.t. 

3. Mechanical Engineering to sharpen on or as if on a strop.

• Latin stroppus, variant of struppus strap
• bef. 1050; Middle English (noun, nominal), Old English; cognate with Dutch, Low German strop; all probably

strop′per, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

strop / strɒp/ noun

1. a leather strap or an abrasive strip for sharpening razors
   Also called: stropper
2. a rope or metal band around a block or deadeye for support

verb (strops, stropping, stropped)

1. (transitive) to sharpen (a razor, etc) on a strop

Etymology: 14th Century (in nautical use: a strip of rope): via Middle Low German or Middle Dutch strop, ultimately from Latin stroppus, from Greek strophos cord; see strophe

strop / strɒp/ noun

1. a temper tantrum: he threw a strop and stormed off

Etymology: 20th Century: back formation from stroppy