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# prop

«prop» in Mova's school dictionary: **An object used by actors in a play or film, like a sword…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (a prop, props); verb (prop, props, propped, propping)

### meaning for a pupil

1) An object used by actors in a play or film, like a sword, a crown or a cup. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#m1)

2) A stick, beam or other thing used to hold something up. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#m2)

3) (verb) To support something so it doesn't fall, or to lean it against something: «prop the door open». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#m3)

4) (rugby) A player in the front row of the scrum. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#m4)

5) (informal) A propeller. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#m5)

### sense in the lessons

In school plays, the props table holds things actors need. In everyday life, «prop the door open» or «prop up a plant». In science, a prop is a support that stops something falling. Fire safety: fire doors must not be propped open. Phrases: «prop up», «prop open», «stage props».

### examples

- We made a paper crown as a prop for the play. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#x1)
- Prop the bike against the wall. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#x2)
- Don't prop open the fire door. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#x3)
- Dad propped up the tomato plant with a stick. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#x4)
- She propped her head on her hand. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#x5)
- The prop pushed hard in the rugby scrum. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#x6)
- With a willow cane he propped himself up as he staggered along beneath his burden. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/#x7)

### note

Past: propped (double «p»). «Props to you» is slang for «well done». A prop in a play looks real but often isn't — prop swords are blunt.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «prop» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prop/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.