From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpropprop1 /prɒp $ prɑːp/ verb (propped, propping) [transitive always + adverb/preposition] PUTto support something by leaning it against something, or by putting something else under, next to, or behind itprop something against/on something He propped his bike against a tree. Can we prop the window open with something? → prop something ↔ up→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
prop• An old guitar lay propped against a wall.• As soon as the infant Arthur was old enough to be propped against the proscenium arch, he was included in the turn.• Nurse Bells had propped him upright and he looked alert and interested.• He propped his bicycle against the fence and ran inside.• Anushkia Smyslov had bandaged Alex Bannen's head, and the physicist was propped in a sitting position against a workstation.• She remembered him propped up by the nurses, waving his little hands about.• The President was propped up in bed.• They prop up prices for growers by controlling production rather than through federal subsidies.• Duncan had left Myeloski propping up the bar, drinking his customary vodka and Budweiser chaser.• They are trying to prop up the tumbling stockmarket by cutting the supply of new issues.prop ... open• Empty the fridge, wipe it out, collect up thawed water from its freezer section and leave the door propped open.• Fetch some universal brake-fluid and a five-eighths screwdriver from your toolkit then prop the bonnet open.• One elbow was on the counter, and his head was propped in his open hand.• It also was the best thing at hand to prop open the heavy outer door of his building.• When I got down to the close, however, I discovered the bottom door propped wide open to facilitate a flitting.• They crossed the jetty to a large wooden door, which had been propped open with a three-legged stool.• Several doors had been propped open with garbage cans, and footage from the security cameras was missing.propprop2 noun [countable] 1 SUPPORT/HOLD UPan object placed under or against something to hold it in a particular position2 APTAMF[usually plural] a small object such as a book, weapon etc, used by actors in a play or film Anna looks after costumes and props. stage props3 HELPsomething or someone that helps you to feel strong She was becoming an emotional prop for him.4 informalTTA a propeller5 (also prop forward) one of the players in a rugby team, who is large and strong and holds up the scrumExamples from the Corpus
prop• The days of buying politicians and pimping ballot props are over because the public has wised up.• Low interest rates are the stock market's most important prop.• Salford prop David Young has been appointed to lead the side in the absence of Davies.• And Lewis was such a tremendous stage prop.• The clothes lines were taken down and rolled up by the dustbins, together with the props.From Longman Business Dictionaryprop.prop. written abbreviation for PROPRIETOROrigin prop2 1. (1400-1500) Middle Dutch proppe2. (1800-1900) property3. (1900-2000) propeller 