slop
/slɒp/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Wet, messy liquid food or waste. It is often thick and unpleasant. In British English, it can also mean thin, watery food or drink.
- The pig ate the slop quickly.
- Don't spill slop on the floor.
- The soup was just slop in a bowl.
verb
To spill or splash a liquid carelessly. It can also mean to make something wet and messy.
- He slopped water onto the table.
- She slopped paint over the edge.
- Please don't slop tea on the carpet.
Adinary Nuance
Slop is stronger and messier than words like spill or splash. It often suggests something thick, dirty, or careless, not a neat accident. In British English, it can also mean thin, watery food, which is a different feel from the messy sense.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đồ nhão
- Spanish
- papilla
- Chinese
- 泔水
- Japanese
- 残飯
- Korean
- 잔반
Etymology
Slop comes from Old English and Middle Dutch words linked to flowing or spilling liquid. Its older meanings were about loose, watery material and careless spilling.
Common phrases
slop aroundslop overpig slopslop bucket
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is slop a polite word?
- Usually no. It can sound unpleasant, rude, or very informal.
- What is the difference between slop and spill?
- Spill is neutral. Slop suggests a messy, careless spill, often with liquid food.
- Can slop mean food?
- Yes. It can mean wet, unappetizing food, especially for animals.
- Is slop common in business English?
- No. It is mostly used in everyday speech or when describing something messy.