1
- a pole or beam used as a support or to keep something in position, typically one that is not an integral part of the thing supported支撑物, 支柱; 撑棒：
he looked around for a prop or a wedge to pin the door open.
他环视一周, 想找根撑棒或楔子把门撑开。
1.1
- figurative a person or thing that is a major source of support or assistance〈喻〉支持者, 后盾, 靠山：
the second institutional prop of conservative Spain was the army.
保守派西班牙的第二个后盾机构便是军队。
1.2
- Grammar a word used to fill a syntactic role without any specific meaning of its own, for example it in it is raining【语法】（本身没有具体意义但能使句法完整的）结构词。
1.3
- （亦作prop forward）Rugby a forward at either end of the front row of a scrum【英橄】（双方排开争球时）第一排的边锋。
2
- chiefly Austral. a sudden stop made by a horse when going at speed〈主澳〉（马快跑时的）骤停。
(propped, propping)
1
- with obj. and adverbial of place position something underneath (someone or something) for support用…支撑（人, 物）：
she propped her chin in the palm of her right hand.
她右手掌心托着下巴。
1.1
- position (someone or something) more or less upright by leaning them against something else放置, 摆放; 使靠在…上：
a jug of milk with a note propped against it
一罐牛奶旁边竖了张便条
she propped the picture up on the mantlepiece.
她把画靠在壁炉架上。
1.2
- use an object to keep (something) in position用…撑住（某物）：
he found that the door to the office was propped open.
他看到办公室的门被撑开着。
2
- no obj. chiefly Austral. (of an animal, especially a horse) come to a dead stop with the forelegs rigid〈主澳〉（尤指马等挺直前腿）骤停。
短语
prop up the bar
- informal spend a considerable time drinking in a public house〈非正式〉泡酒吧。
词源
late Middle English: probably from Middle Dutch proppe 'support (for vines)'.
短语动词
prop someone/thing up
- provide support or assistance for someone or something that would otherwise fail or decline支持, 维持：
the government spent £3 billion in an attempt to prop up the pound.
政府投入30亿英镑用于支撑英镑。