prop
A thing used in plays or movies to help acting seem real.
Prop has two main meanings that come up frequently:
- A physical object used in a play, movie, or performance to make it more realistic or interesting. When actors perform on stage, they use props like fake swords, telephones, books, or dishes to help tell the story. A wizard's wand in a school play is a prop. So is the steering wheel in a car during a movie scene. The props department in a theater or film studio creates and manages all these objects. Props help audiences believe in the world of the story, even though they know it's pretend.
- To hold something up or support it so it doesn't fall. You might prop open a heavy door with a doorstop, or prop yourself up against a wall when you're tired. A farmer might prop up a young tree with stakes until its roots grow strong enough to support it alone. When you prop your feet up on a footstool after a long day, you're resting them on something that holds them in a comfortable position.
Both meanings share the idea of providing support: physical props support a story, while propping something up provides physical support.