droops

Droops is the third-person singular present tense of the verb to droop and, less commonly, the plural form of the noun droop. The term denotes a downward bending, sagging, or loss of firmness in a person, plant, or object. In everyday language, it can describe physical posture, the sagging of materials, or a decline in vigor.

In botany and horticulture, droop refers to the wilting or sagging of leaves or stems. This symptom commonly results from stressors such as insufficient or excessive water, heat, nutrient imbalance, disease, or root problems. Diagnosis typically involves examining soil moisture, root health, and signs of pests or pathogens, followed by corrective measures such as adjusting irrigation, improving drainage, or addressing nutrient needs.

In engineering and electronics, voltage or mechanical droop describes a temporary sag under stress. A voltage droop occurs when the electrical potential drops as load increases, affecting power supplies, batteries, or distribution networks. In some regulatory contexts, intentional droop is used to share load among multiple sources, while unintentional droop can indicate instability or design limitations.

Other uses include general descriptions of sagging shapes or fatigued appearance in living beings or in objects caused by gravity or material fatigue. The word conveys a sense of downward movement or reduced stiffness and appears across disciplines with context-dependent specifics.