What are drops? Is it shape or volume? Liquid or something solid? Or maybe this is something intangible? In short, all these statements are true.
What do dictionaries say?
Literally, this word means a small volume of liquid that forms a round shape. So interprets the main meaning of the word S. I. Ozhegov. But Ushakov’s dictionary explains that a round shape is obtained due to the interaction of fluid particles. The author of the book “The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Drop” M. S. Volynsky clarifies that the form is obtained by the action of surface tension forces. In physics, there is even such a term - "drop".
This is a conventionally accepted amount of a substance that forms its volume. In zero gravity, large drops can be formed, but not on the earth.
There are drops of liquid, there are molten metal or paraffin. While the substance is in a liquid state, you can give it any shape. There is a technology for spraying metal on plastic products. When the metal film hardens, it becomes hard. This property of the plasticity of the drop is used by the hostesses who decorate the cake: dripping with liquid glaze on the surface of the cake, you can create a beautiful pattern.
Rain drops falling from the sky have a slightly elongated end, this is the result of the action of the forces of attraction and rotation. It is a perfect shape with perfect streamlining. Therefore, the droplet shape is the most ergonomic version of the body of a car or aircraft.
The word has other meanings, figurative meaning. Let's consider them in more detail.
Drop in the sea and other idioms
In proverbs and sayings, in catch phrases there are comparisons. The images they draw emphasize in this way the thought that they convey. Everyone knows the following expressions:
- A grain of sand on the shore.
- A speck of dust on the scales.
- A drop in the sea.
This is a symbol of something small that easily loses its significance in a large volume. In fact, such expressions mean that the drop can be neglected, this is nothing, zero.
A drop, as the smallest volume in everyday life, is also part of other expressions:
- I’m not afraid of this.
- In this venture there is not a drop of common sense.
- Ready to protect to the last drop of blood.
Here we use the gain technique used to give more weight to what has been said.
Use of the word in medical meaning
In medicine, “drops” is a medicine, and the word is used in the plural. For example, "the doctor prescribed drops in the nose." This is the established name for a suspension, emulsion or solution with an active substance, which causes a therapeutic effect. Often the bottle has a built-in pipette in the cap for ease of use.
Not all drop-wise medicines carry this name. Preparations such as tincture of valerian, valocordin and corvalol take a few drops in half a glass of water. But it would be wrong to call them drops. This term was fixed only for some recipes, including the legendary drops of the Danish king. They have been known since the 17th century as the invention of the Dane Ringelman and have been widely used to treat colds, especially in children, back in the last century.
The use of this word should be said separately. Some drugs are instilled (in the eyes, ears, nose), while others are added to drink. If you intend to prepare a solution taken orally, it will correctly say "take drops." Separately, you can distinguish the drip of the drug into a vein. About such treatment they say "put a dropper with such and such a medicine."
How to incline the word drops?
This is not an idle question. When it comes to doctor's prescriptions, competent speech will give respect to the doctor and the weight of his words. A common mistake is to use the singular form of the instrumental case instead of the genitive plural. That is, when instead of “drops” they say “drop”.
Perhaps the confusion of the end of the word. Indeed, some words with the same ending have the right to declare the ending to "her". For example, the word sled: in the genitive case will be:
Why, in our case, is used the ending -el instead of -ey? The fluent vowel rule applies here. The base of the word ends in two consonants:
In addition, the word is in the plural. The rule prescribes when creating the form of the genitive case, insert a fluent vowel e:
Drops
There is a beautiful word for drops in Russian (not to be confused with a font - a tub for bathing in the temple). When the spring sun begins to warm the snow on the roofs, icicles hanging from the fringe appear. At first they grow, merge with each other, but there comes a moment when the sun is already giving so much heat that snow and ice are melting before our eyes. Drops falling from numerous icicles are drops. She even has a special song - sonorous, funny. Whether drops knock on a tin cornice of a window, whether they fall into a puddle, which they themselves have formed - in any case, the sound is cheerful. Summer's soon.
The declension of the word drops by cases, basically, does not cause difficulties. But, since this article discusses in detail all the features, it should be noted that the accusative case in this case coincides with the nominative. The genitive, dative, and prepositional have an ending –and, the instrumental will have the form of a “drop”.
Rain
When it comes to precipitation, the Russian language contains several synonyms for the effects of these natural phenomena. Rain is drumming on the window pane, watering like a bucket, drizzling, crying, dripping ... Raindrops are not inferior in the number of poetic images:
- Having fallen to the surface of the water, they leave concentric circles.
- Having fallen on asphalt, dust is beaten.
- A sunbeam, refracted in droplets of a fountain, causes a rainbow shine.
When it is unclear whether the rain has ended, it is enough to look at the puddles: are there still traces of drops.
Rain has been sung many times in literature, music and painting. His drops are a symbol of sadness, tears, grief and longing. Sometimes not only a symbol, but also a reason.
Surprisingly, the physical processes taking place in them can cause literal tears for the farmer. Water droplets remaining after rain are exposed to low temperatures. Moisture does not evaporate, and there is enough time for the propagation of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi. It turns out that rain that fell on a cold August night can ruin the crop: plants are infected with late blight. In the years 1845-1849, this disease caused famine in Ireland.
Is it possible to see traces of rain on clothes? Unfortunately, on some coats, down jackets and leather jackets, white stains or spot marks from drops appear. Modern fabrics are treated with water repellents to prevent this from happening.
On glass
After rain, droplets are everywhere. But there is a slight nuance in the use of this word, if there are drops on the glass. It so happened that these drops are negotiated separately so that the meaning of what is said does not change. For example, if you say "drops on the car" - we will talk about traces of rain on the body. About the windshield should be discussed separately. The same goes for glasses, and windows, and a microscope, and binoculars.
Drops on the glass necessarily require clarification on which glass, where it is located, what it refers to. If the nature of the droplets is considered, their physical properties, how different substances behave on different surfaces, then another matter. But in ordinary life, do not forget about the addition, otherwise the phrase will get an abstract meaning.
Tears were dripping
There are two types of tears: physiological and emotional. The first wash the eye, moisturize it, remove bacteria. Scientists have discovered that they contain the enzyme lysozyme, which adversely affects viruses. On the lacrimal tubule, some of them fall into the nose. Therefore, so many handkerchiefs are required for colds. But not this kind of tears interests us. Emotional tears are a hallmark of a person. Of course, some animals may cry, but rarely. What about man? It is enough to observe the child during the day to make sure: tears are an expression of emotions, relaxation and comfort. Why it happens?
American scientist W. Frey proved that the mechanism that triggers emotional tears gives the body a signal to produce enkephalin. And he, in turn, suppresses pain. So there is no escape from tears.
People have noticed this for a long time and phraseological units that reflect emotions that are accompanied by tears have entered the language. Sometimes there are no words to express all the pain of the soul, only tears flow down the face and drip. Exactly so - “Tears dripped” - the painting by George Danelia is called. This is a modern interpretation of the fairy tale “The Snow Queen”. When a magic shard of an evil mirror hits the eye, everything is seen in black.
If rain reminds of tears of sorrow, then drops of a drop are a symbol of tears of joy. As if at the wedding during a solemn speech all relatives and guests burst into tears. Scientists say that they even have a different composition. Under the microscope, it is seen that substances dissolved in tears form various patterns. The specialist can easily distinguish tears of grief from tears of joy.
How to make a sentence with this word?
There are two options:
1. Drops - a medicine, the word is in the plural.
2. Drops - the genitive case of the singular.
To begin with, it should be clarified in what number the word is. It depends on how it will change in cases. We have already examined the case endings in detail, so there should be no problem with this.
If an adjective is used in a phrase with this word, it will also change in cases. Examples are given for the genitive case:
If you mean a part of something larger expressed by a noun, or a proper name is used in the phrase, only the word “drops” will change according to cases:
To summarize
Such a simple word and so many nuances of its use. We have analyzed several of its meanings and declension cases. Now you know how to make a sentence with the word “drops” and how poets and prose writers love it.