Popped

Popped is the past tense and past participle of the verb pop. The core sense is a sharp, brief burst or release of pressure, often producing a small explosion-like sound. Beyond the literal bursting of a object, popped can describe actions that occur suddenly or unexpectedly, or that cause something to rise or appear quickly. The term is widely used in everyday speech and in figurative contexts.

In cooking and food, popped commonly refers to popcorn, which is produced when heat causes each kernel to rupture and puff into a light, edible piece. The adjective popped appears in phrases such as popped corn or popped popcorn, and can describe other foods that have been heated or puffed, such as popped rice or popped snacks. In other contexts, objects or materials can be described as popped when they have burst or opened suddenly, such as a popped balloon or a popped tire.

Phrases and uses permeate many aspects of language. Common examples include popped the question (to propose marriage), popped in or popped by (to visit briefly), and popped up (to appear suddenly). In medical or everyday speech, one might say a blister has popped, or a vein has popped, conveying rupture or bursting. In fashion, a popped collar refers to a collar that stands up rather than laying flat.

Etymologically, popped derives from the onomatopoeic English verb pop, with the past tense formed regularly. The word is versatile and remains prevalent in informal and media language due to its concise, vivid imagery of quick, decisive action.