Hopper
/ˈhɒpər/
Definitions
2 meaningsA container or funnel-shaped receptacle for storing and dispensing materials such as grain, coal, or other loose substances.
/ˈhɒpər/
A container or device that holds and dispenses something.
The train car's hopper was opened to release the coal.
💡 Simply: Imagine a big bucket that helps pour out stuff, like the big container on a truck that drops rocks. That's a hopper!
👶 For kids: A big box that holds things, like seeds or rocks, and helps them come out.
More Examples
The grain hopper was emptied into the silo.
We refilled the bird feeder's hopper with seeds.
How It's Used
"The combine harvester has a large grain hopper."
"The cement hopper was filled with concrete mix."
A person or animal that jumps or hops.
/ˈhɒpər/
A person or thing that hops.
The grasshopper is a skilled hopper.
💡 Simply: A hopper is someone or something that jumps! Like a bunny rabbit or a person skipping.
👶 For kids: Something that jumps up and down.
More Examples
The bunny is a quick hopper.
He was a natural hopper, always skipping across the playground.
How It's Used
"The grasshopper is a type of hopper known for its jumping ability."
"The basketball player was a fast hopper on the court."
From Middle English hopper, from Old English hoppere ('one who hops'), from hoppian ('to hop').
The word 'hopper' has been used since the Middle Ages to refer to a person or thing that hops, and later evolved to describe containers.
Memory tip
Think of a container that 'hops' materials out.