tapping

1
[ tap-ing ]
/ ˈtæp ɪŋ /

noun

the act of a person or thing that taps or strikes lightly.
the sound produced by this.

Origin of tapping

1
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at tap1, -ing1

Definition for tapping (2 of 4)

tapping 2
[ tap-ing ]
/ ˈtæp ɪŋ /

noun

the act of tapping casks, telephone conversations, etc.
something that is drawn by tapping.

Origin of tapping

2
First recorded in 1590–1600; tap2 + -ing1

Definition for tapping (3 of 4)

tap 1
[ tap ]
/ tæp /

verb (used with object), tapped, tap·ping.

verb (used without object), tapped, tap·ping.

noun

Origin of tap

1
1175–1225; (v.) Middle English tappen, variant of early Middle English teppen, probably imitative; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.

OTHER WORDS FROM tap

tap·pa·ble, adjective un·tap·pa·ble, adjective

Definition for tapping (4 of 4)

tap 2
[ tap ]
/ tæp /

noun

verb (used with object), tapped, tap·ping.

Verb Phrases

tap into, Informal. to gain access to; become friendly with: The candidate tapped into some wealthy supporters.
tap off, to remove (liquid, molten metal, etc.) from a keg, furnace, or the like: to tap off slag from a blast furnace.

Origin of tap

2
before 1050; (noun) Middle English tappe, Old English tæppa; cognate with Dutch tap, Old High German zapfo, Old Norse tappi; (v.) Middle English tappen, Old English tæppian; cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch tappen, German zapfen, Old Norse tappa

OTHER WORDS FROM tap

tap·pa·ble, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for tapping

British Dictionary definitions for tapping (1 of 3)

tap 1
/ (tæp) /

verb taps, tapping or tapped

noun

See also taps

Derived forms of tap

tappable, adjective

Word Origin for tap

C13 tappen, probably from Old French taper, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German tappen to pluck, Swedish dialect täpa to tap

British Dictionary definitions for tapping (2 of 3)

tap 2
/ (tæp) /

noun

verb taps, tapping or tapped (tr)

Derived forms of tap

tappable, adjective

Word Origin for tap

Old English tæppa; related to Old Norse tappi tap, Old High German zapfo

British Dictionary definitions for tapping (3 of 3)

tap 3
/ (tæp) /

noun, verb

a Scot word for top 1

Medical definitions for tapping

tap
[ tăp ]

n.

The removal of fluid from a body cavity.

v.

To withdraw fluid from a body cavity, as with a trocar and cannula, hollow needle, or catheter.
To strike lightly with the finger or a hammerlike instrument, as in percussion or to elicit a tendon reflex.

Idioms and Phrases with tapping

tap

see on tap.