tap

[ tap ]

/ tæp /

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

to strike with a light but audible blow or blows; hit with repeated, slight blows: He tapped the door twice.

to make, put, etc., by tapping: to tap a nail into a wall.

to strike (the fingers, a foot, a pencil, etc.) upon or against something, especially with repeated light blows: Stop tapping your feet!

Basketball. to strike (a ball in the air) in the direction of a teammate or of the basket.

to enter information or produce copy by tapping on a keyboard: to tap data into a computer; to tap out a magazine article.

to add a thickness of leather to the sole or heel of (a boot or shoe), as in repairing.

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

to strike lightly but audibly, as to attract attention.

to strike light blows.

to tap-dance.

noun

a light but audible blow: a tap on the shoulder.

the sound made by this.

a piece of metal attached to the toe or heel of a shoe, as for reinforcement or for making the tapping of a dancer more audible.

Basketball. an act or instance of tapping the ball: Hanson got the tap from our center, who, 6prime;9″ tall, couldn't lose a jump ball.

a thickness of leather added to the sole or heel of a boot or shoe, as in repairing.

Origin of tap

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

Words nearby tap

taoiseach, taoism, taonga, taormina, taos, tap, tap bell, tap bolt, tap dance, tap pants, tap water

Definition for tapped (2 of 2)

tap ²

[ tap ]

/ tæp /

noun

a cylindrical stick, long plug, or stopper for closing an opening through which liquid is drawn, as in a cask; spigot.

a faucet or cock.

the liquor drawn through a particular tap.

British. a taphouse or taproom.

a tool for cutting screw threads into the cylindrical surface of a round opening.

Surgery. the withdrawal of fluid: spinal tap.

a hole made in tapping, as one in a pipe to furnish connection for a branch pipe.

Electricity. a connection brought out of a winding at some point between its extremities, for controlling the voltage ratio.

Informal. an act or instance of wiretapping.

Archaic. a particular kind or quality of drink.

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

to draw liquid from (a vessel or container).

to draw off (liquid) by removing or opening a tap or by piercing a container.

to draw the tap or plug from or pierce (a cask or other container).

to penetrate, open up, reach into, etc., for the purpose of using something or drawing something off; begin to use: to tap one's resources.

to connect into secretly so as to receive the message or signal being transmitted: to tap a telephone wire or telephone.

to furnish (a cask, container, pipe, etc.) with a tap.

to cut a screw thread into the surface of (an opening).

to open outlets from (power lines, highways, pipes, etc.).

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

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 tapped

This week Secretary of State John Kerry tapped Nancy Powell, former ambassador to India, to lead the Ebola Coordination Unit.

Meet America’s New Top Ebola Fighter |Abby Haglage |September 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Israel tapped her to bring down the masterminds behind the 1972 Olympic massacre.

Mossad’s Greatest Female Assassin: An Excerpt From ‘Sylvia Rafael’ |Ram Oren,   Moti Kfir |September 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They compared outfits, loudly greeted friends, tapped on their iPhones.

The Drama of Being a Model: Spike Jonze and Jonah Hill Land in Fashion Week |Allison McNearney |September 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Judge Bert Richardson, a Republican appointee of President George W. Bush, tapped McCrum to investigate a case against Perry.

Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: August 31 |PunditFact.com |August 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Blueprints for floors and dining room tables mark off which spots were tapped.

The KGB Welcomes You to Estonia’s Hotel Viru. Please Mind the Hidden Bugs |Nina Strochlic |July 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She opened her door, crossed the landing, and tapped at Hugh's.

Left to Ourselves |Catharine Shaw
She tapped her fingernail against her teeth as she looked him up and down.

Ralestone Luck |Andre Norton
A gourd is tied to an upper branch of a palm which is then tapped and the sap drops into the vessel.

A Journal of a Tour in the Congo Free State |Marcus Dorman
Then were heard the barkings of the watch dog, and I tapped my faithful companion to prevent his answering them.

John James Audubon |John Burroughs
At last she moved and tapped her fingers upon the table at her side.

Desperate Remedies |Thomas Hardy

British Dictionary definitions for tapped (1 of 3)

tap ¹

/ (tæp) /

verb taps, tapping or tapped

to strike (something) lightly and usually repeatedly to tap the table; to tap on the table

(tr) to produce by striking in this way to tap a rhythm

(tr) to strike lightly with (something) to tap one's finger on the desk

(intr) to walk with a tapping sound she tapped across the floor

(tr) to attach metal or leather reinforcing pieces to (the toe or heel of a shoe)

noun

a light blow or knock, or the sound made by it

the metal piece attached to the toe or heel of a shoe used for tap-dancing

short for tap-dancing See tap-dancing

phonetics the contact made between the tip of the tongue and the alveolar ridge as the tongue is flicked upwards in the execution of a flap or vibrates rapidly in the execution of a trill or roll

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 tapped (2 of 3)

tap ²

/ (tæp) /

noun

a valve by which a fluid flow from a pipe can be controlled by opening and closing an orifice US and Canadian name: faucet

a stopper to plug a cask or barrel and enable the contents to be drawn out in a controlled flow

a particular quality of alcoholic drink, esp when contained in casks an excellent tap

British short for taproom

the surgical withdrawal of fluid from a bodily cavity a spinal tap

Also called: screw tap a tool for cutting female screw threads, consisting of a threaded steel cylinder with longitudinal grooves forming cutting edges Compare die 2 (def. 2)

electronics, mainly US and Canadian a connection made at some point between the end terminals of an inductor, resistor, or some other component Usual Brit name: tapping

stock exchange

an issue of a government security released slowly onto the market when its market price reaches a predetermined level
(as modifier)tap stock; tap issue

a concealed listening or recording device connected to a telephone or telegraph wire for the purpose of obtaining information secretly

on tap

informal ready for immediate use
(of drinks) on draught

verb taps, tapping or tapped (tr)

to furnish with a tap

to draw off with or as if with a tap

to cut into (a tree) and draw off sap from it

British informal to ask or beg (someone) for money he tapped me for a fiver

to connect a tap to (a telephone or telegraph wire)
to listen in secret to (a telephone message, etc) by means of a tap

to make a connection to (a pipe, drain, etc)

to cut a female screw thread in (an object or material) by use of a tap

to withdraw (fluid) from (a bodily cavity)

informal (of a sports team or an employer) to make an illicit attempt to recruit (a player or employee bound by an existing contract)

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 tapped (3 of 3)

tap ³

/ (tæp) /

noun, verb

a Scot word for top 1

Medical definitions for tapped

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 tapped

tap

see on tap.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tap

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

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

noun

Origin of tap

OTHER WORDS FROM tap

Words nearby tap

Definition for tapped (2 of 2)

noun

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

Verb Phrases

Origin of tap

OTHER WORDS FROM tap

Example sentences from the Web for tapped

British Dictionary definitions for tapped (1 of 3)

verb taps, tapping or tapped

noun

Derived forms of tap

Word Origin for tap

British Dictionary definitions for tapped (2 of 3)

noun

verb taps, tapping or tapped (tr)

Derived forms of tap

Word Origin for tap

British Dictionary definitions for tapped (3 of 3)

noun, verb

Medical definitions for tapped

n.

v.

Idioms and Phrases with tapped

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tap

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

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

noun

Origin of tap

OTHER WORDS FROM tap

Words nearby tap

Definition for tapped (2 of 2)

noun

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

Verb Phrases

Origin of tap

OTHER WORDS FROM tap

Words related to tapped

Example sentences from the Web for tapped

British Dictionary definitions for tapped (1 of 3)

verb taps, tapping or tapped

noun

Derived forms of tap

Word Origin for tap

British Dictionary definitions for tapped (2 of 3)

noun

verb taps, tapping or tapped (tr)

Derived forms of tap

Word Origin for tap

British Dictionary definitions for tapped (3 of 3)

noun, verb

Medical definitions for tapped

n.

v.

Idioms and Phrases with tapped