Poop

Definition

Poop is a noun and verb with informal usage. As a noun, it primarily means feces (excrement from humans or animals); informally it can also mean information, news, or gossip (slang: “inside poop”). As a verb, it means to defecate; in informal use, it can also mean to tire out or exhaust (“pooped”). Historically, poop has a distinct nautical meaning referring to the stern deck of a ship.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb (informal)
• Noun (archaic/nautical)

Pronunciation

American & British English

• IPA: /puːp/
• Respelling: POOP

Etymology

Late Middle English (nautical sense “stern deck”): from Old French poupe, from Latin puppis “stern of a ship.” The excrement sense is of imitative origin (child’s word, 18th century). Slang “information” sense developed in early 20th-century U.S. military slang.

Derivatives

• pooped (adjective; informal) — exhausted, very tired
• pooper (noun; informal) — someone who spoils fun (as in “party pooper”)
• pooping (verb form) — the act of defecating

Synonyms

• (feces sense) excrement, stool, dung, droppings, waste
• (slang information sense) news, scoop, gossip, inside story
• (tired sense) exhausted, fatigued, spent

Antonyms

• (for feces sense) cleanliness, emptiness
• (for tired sense) energetic, lively

Usage

Noun: “Parents must clean up dog poop in the park.” / “Here’s the inside poop on the new policy.”

Verb: “The toddler pooped in his diaper.” / “After the long hike, we were completely pooped.”

Nautical: “The captain stood on the poop deck, surveying the sea.”

Related Terms

• Defecate: The formal term for discharging feces.
• Excrement: Waste matter discharged from the bowels.
• Stool: A medical/clinical term for feces.
• Party pooper: Informal expression for someone spoiling fun.
• Scoop: Synonym for “inside poop,” meaning exclusive news.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• Feces; excrement — solid waste discharged from the bowels.
  • Example: “The dog left poop on the sidewalk.”
• Information, especially privileged or insider news (slang).
  • Example: “He always knows the inside poop about the company.”
• The aftermost and highest deck of a ship (archaic nautical).
  • Example: “The admiral gave orders from the poop deck.”

Verb

• To defecate (informal).
  • Example: “The baby pooped right after feeding.”
• To tire or exhaust (usually passive: be pooped).
  • Example: “I was so pooped after running the marathon.”