COP

UN climate gathering

A cop is a police officer, from slang that dates to the mid-1800s.

The word is informal but not disrespectful—cops themselves use it.

To cop is to grab or obtain: cop a feel, cop a plea.

To cop out is to avoid responsibility or commitment.

To cop to something is to admit it: He finally copped to the theft.

police

officer

Authority figure in uniform

  • badgeWorn symbol of membership
  • arrestSeize by law
  • beatRhythmic pulse or strike

constable · detective · sergeant · sheriff · patrolman · policewoman · squad · undercover · stakeout · surveillance

slang

bust

Failure or sculpture

  • nabSeize or apprehend
  • pinchSqueeze with fingertips
  • collarNeck encirclement

catch · snitch · informant · heat · fuzz · pig · five-o · narc · the man · badge

patrol

beat

Rhythmic pulse or strike

surveillance · monitoring · vigilance · sector · route · presence · inspection · walkthrough · prowl · guard

climate

Paris Agreement

Global warming limitation accord

mitigation · adaptation · biodiversity · sustainability · environmental policy · greenhouse gases · carbon dioxide · global warming · renewable energy · fossil fuels

Categories
Opposites
law enforcement vs lawbreaking

COPcriminal

Person who breaks laws

crook · outlaw · lawbreaker · felon · thief

authority/establishment vs anti-authority

COPanarchist

One opposing all governance

rebel · revolutionary · dissident · protester · activist

cop (conference of the parties) vs unilateral/non-cooperative approaches

COPunilateral action

non-participation · national sovereignty · isolationism · withdrawal

Phrases
Family

cope, copper, cops, copped, coppery, copping, copilot, copal, cop-out

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G