[Du. hop.] A well-known climbing plant, very extensively cultivated in the south-east of England. It is a native of Europe, and is now grown in the United States and in Australia and New Zealand. It is largely grown in some of the American States, especially in New York. The plant is cultivated for its flowers, which are gathered or picked dried in kilns, bleached with, sulphuric acid, and then used in making beer. They give it a bitter taste, and help to make it bright and clear. Hop bitters are used as a tonic.