Skip to main content

droppings — solid waste matter discharged from the body of an animal, especially small pellets from birds or rodents

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: solid waste matter discharged from the body of an animal, especially small pellets from birds or rodents

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdrɑːpɪŋz/

Example Sentences

  • My car was covered in bird droppings this morning, and I had no idea a bird could produce that much!
  • The exterminator checked the attic for mouse droppings to confirm an infestation.
  • In some cultures, finding bird droppings on your head is considered good luck—though I doubt the bird meant it that way.

droppings

NOUN

[/ˈdrɑːpɪŋz/]

solid waste matter discharged from the body of an animal, especially small pellets from birds or rodents

The ranger points at fresh bear droppings on the forest trail.
💡 Concept

The ranger points at fresh bear droppings on the forest trail.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈdrɑːpɪŋz/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈdrɒpɪŋz/

🌳Etymology

Rootdrop
Suffix--ings

Origin

Droppings derives from the verb drop, which has Germanic roots (Old Norse dropa, Old English dropan). The word originally referred to things that fall or descend, and came to describe the feces of birds and animals from the image of excrement falling or being deposited as animals move.

Breakdown

drop (to fall, descend) + -ing (present participle, gerund suffix) + -s (plural marker). The -ing suffix converts the verb into a noun denoting the action or result of dropping, with -s marking the plural form of animal feces.

🎵Rhyme

hopping
popping
shopping
stopping

🔗Collocations

animal droppings
bird droppings
mouse droppings
clean up droppings
find droppings
fresh droppings
trace of droppings

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My car was covered in bird droppings this morning, and I had no idea a bird could produce that much!”

“The exterminator checked the attic for mouse droppings to confirm an infestation.”

😄 Fun example

“In some cultures, finding bird droppings on your head is considered good luck—though I doubt the bird meant it that way.”

“Scientists study animal droppings to learn about their diet and health.”

📚Related Words

Want to master 27,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.