/'pɒpjʊlə(r); `pɑpjəlɚ/
adj
1 (a) liked, admired or enjoyed by many people 为众人所喜爱、赞赏或欢迎的; 流行的
*a popular politician 深孚众望的政治家
* Jeans are popular among the young. 牛仔裤年轻人很喜爱.
* Jogging is a popular form of exercise. 慢跑是一种十分普及的体育活动.
(b) ~ with sb liked, admired or enjoyed by sb 某人所喜爱、赞赏或欢迎的
*measures popular with the electorate 受选民欢迎的措施
* (infml 口) I'm not very popular with the boss (ie He is annoyed with me) at the moment. 我现在不称老板的心.
2 [attrib 作定语] (sometimes derog 有时作贬义) suited to the taste or the education level of the general public 适应大众口味或教育水平的; 普及的; 通俗的; 庸俗的
*popular music 流行音乐
* the popular press 通俗报刊
* novels with popular appeal 适合大众口味的小说
* popular (ie simplified) science 大众科学
* popular (ie low) prices 廉价.
3 [attrib 作定语] of or by the people 人民的; 依靠人民的
*the popular vote 人民的投票
* issues of popular concern 人民群众关心的问题
* by popular demand 根据人民群众的要求.
4 [attrib 作定语] (of beliefs, etc) held by a large number of people （指信念等）广大民众所持有的
*a popular myth, superstition, misconception, etc 民众的神话、迷信、错误观念等.

adj
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin;Origin: popularis, from populus 'people']
liked by a lot of people
≠ unpopular
　Hilary was popular at school.
　a popular holiday resort
　Coffee is probably the most popular drink in the world.
hugely/enormously/immensely etc popular
　Guerrero's music is hugely popular in Latin America.
popular with/among
　The President is very popular with Jewish voters.
[only before noun]
done by a lot of people in a society, group etc
　the closest popular vote in U.S. presidential history
　The government has little popular support among women voters.
　Kaplan's latest recording has received considerable popular acclaim (=it is liked by a lot of people) .
popular belief/opinion/view
(=a belief, opinion etc that a lot of people have)
　a survey of Hispanic-American popular opinion
　Contrary to popular belief (=in spite of what many people believe) , gorillas are basically shy, gentle creatures.
　a popular movement for democracy
[only before noun]
relating to ordinary people, or intended for ordinary people
　Wintour's writing is full of references to American popular culture .
　Steele was ridiculed by the popular press.
→pop music