an arithmetic operation performed on floating-point numbers
"this computer can perform a million flops per second"
An incident of a certain type of fall; a plopping down.
"The new movie was a total flop at the box office, earning far less than expected."
One floating-point operation per second, a unit of measure of processor speed.
Synonym of flop.
In plain English: A flop is something that fails completely and disappoints everyone who tries it out.
"The new movie was a complete flop at the box office."
Usage: When referring to the computer science term for processing power, do not confuse it with "flop" as a verb meaning to fail or collapse. Use this specific noun only in technical contexts involving floating-point operations per second.
fall suddenly and abruptly
"The tired cat flopped onto the rug after chasing its tail around the room."
To fall heavily due to lack of energy.
"After running up the stairs, he stumbled and flopped onto the couch completely exhausted."
In plain English: To flop is to fall down heavily and clumsily, usually without trying very hard.
"The new movie flop at the box office on its first day."
Right, squarely, flat-out.
"The heavy book flopped onto the floor when I let go of it."
In plain English: To flop means to fall down heavily and without control, usually because you are tired or clumsy.
"The new movie flopped at the box office despite its big budget."
First recorded in 1602 as a variant of the word flap, this term likely adopted its current spelling to convey a duller and heavier sense of movement or failure. It entered English from existing usage rather than being borrowed directly from another language, evolving alongside similar sounds like "slap" but with more weight.