The Collaborative International Dictionary
Prop \Prop\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Propping.] [Akin to LG. & D. proppen to cram, stuff, thrust
into, stop, G. pfropfen, Dan. proppe, Sw. proppa; of
uncertain origin, cf. G. pfropfen to graft, fr. L. propago
set, layer of a plant, slip, shoot. Cf. 3d. Prop,
Propagate.]
To support, or prevent from falling, by placing something
under or against; as, to prop up a fence or an old building;
(Fig.) to sustain; to maintain; as, to prop a declining
state.
--Shak.
Till the bright mountains prop the incumbent sky.
--Pope.
For being not propp'd by ancestry.
--Shak.
I prop myself upon those few supports that are left me.
--Pope.
Wiktionary
n. The act by which something is propped. vb. (present participle of prop English)
WordNet
n. a support placed beneath or against something to keep it from shaking or falling
any movable articles or objects used on the set of a play or movie; "before every scene he ran down his checklist of props" [syn: property]
a propeller that rotates to push against air [syn: airplane propeller, airscrew]
See prop
Usage examples of "propping".
She ran toward the kitchen to find the night nurse, the Confederate amputees propping themselves up at the sound of feet.
A local physician, untrained as a surgeon, created an operating table by propping a door across two pews, then sawed limbs off men as though he were pruning trees.
Hayden settled himself into the twin leather chair opposite hers, kicking off his shoes and propping his own stocking feet on an ottoman.
Elayne settling to a browner study than before, Birgitte propping her chin on one hand as she frowned at nothing.
Ulrich sat close, propping his palms upon her hips, but not holding firmly.
Ibrahim scooped brackish rainwater from a puddle with a rusty tin can and, propping up the wounded mans head, moistened his lips.
She leaned back, propping on her arms as he moved lower, his lips and tongue producing pleasurable quakes inside of her as he made his way down her stomach to her belly, sending flurries of goose bumps racing across her flesh.
He studied her for a long moment and finally strode across the room and climbed on the bed as well, sprawling on his side behind her and propping his head in his hand.
Or near enough, Chevette grabbing her beneath both arms and propping her against the edge of the door.
I was willing to wager, and half a dozen pillows propping her up in them.
They did not want to insult their friends, who had broken the rules and sacrificed their drinking glasses just to help them, but they were unable to see how propping open the back door of the auditorium was a solution to the trouble in which they found themselves.