nap
1
[ nap ]
/ næp /
verb (used without object), napped, nap·ping.
to sleep for a short time; doze.
to be off one's guard: The question caught him napping.
verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.
to sleep or doze through (a period of time, an activity, etc.) (usually followed by away): I napped the afternoon away. He naps away most of his classes.
noun
a brief period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime: Has the baby had her nap?
Origin of nap
1
before 900; Middle English
nappen (v.),
nap (noun), Old English
hnappian to sleep; cognate with Middle High German
napfen
Definition for nap (2 of 5)
nap
2
[ nap ]
/ næp /
noun
the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping.
any downy coating, as on plants.
verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.
to raise a nap on.
Origin of nap
2
1400–50; late Middle English
noppe, Old English
-hnoppa (as in
wullknoppa, mistake for
*wullhnoppa tuft of wool), cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German
noppe; akin to Old English
hnoppian to pluck
OTHER WORDS FROM nap
nap·less, adjective nap·less·ness, nounDefinition for nap (3 of 5)
Origin of nap
3
shortened form
Definition for nap (4 of 5)
-nap
a combining form extracted from kidnap, with the general sense “abduct or steal in order to collect a ransom”: artnap; petnap; starnap.
Definition for nap (5 of 5)
Lajoie
[ lash-uh-wey ]
/ ˈlæʃ əˌweɪ /
noun
NapoleonNap,1875–1959,
U.S. baseball player.
Example sentences from the Web for nap
British Dictionary definitions for nap (1 of 3)
nap
1
/ (næp) /
verb naps, napping or napped (intr)
to sleep for a short while; doze
to be unaware or inattentive; be off guard (esp in the phrase catch someone napping)
noun
a short light sleep; doze
Word Origin for nap
Old English
hnappian; related to Middle High German
napfen
British Dictionary definitions for nap (2 of 3)
nap
2
/ (næp) /
noun
- the raised fibres of velvet or similar cloth
- the direction in which these fibres lie when smoothed down
any similar downy coating
Australian informal
blankets, bedding
verb naps, napping or napped
(tr)
to raise the nap of (cloth, esp velvet) by brushing or similar treatment
Word Origin for nap
C15: probably from Middle Dutch
noppe; related to Old English
hnoppian to pluck
British Dictionary definitions for nap (3 of 3)
nap
3
/ (næp) /
noun
verb naps, napping or napped
(tr) horse racing
to name (a horse) as likely to win a race
Word Origin for nap
C19: short for
napoleon, the original name of the card game