| / English Dictionary |
TAP
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: tapped , tapping
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A light touch or stroke
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("tap" is a kind of...):
touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)
Derivation:
tap (strike lightly)
tap (make light, repeated taps on a surface)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information
Synonyms:
tap; wiretap
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("tap" is a kind of...):
investigating; investigation (the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically)
Derivation:
tap (tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A plug for a bunghole in a cask
Synonyms:
spigot; tap
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("tap" is a kind of...):
plug; stopper; stopple (blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly)
Holonyms ("tap" is a part of...):
barrel; cask (a cylindrical container that holds liquids)
Derivation:
tap (pierce in order to draw a liquid from)
tap (draw (liquor) from a tap)
tap (furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it)
tapster (a tavern keeper who taps kegs or casks)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("tap" is a kind of...):
tool (an implement used in the practice of a vocation)
Derivation:
tap (cut a female screw thread with a tap)
Sense 5
Meaning:
A small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("tap" is a kind of...):
plate (a sheet of metal or wood or glass or plastic)
Domain category:
dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore (taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music)
Derivation:
tap (dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes)
Sense 6
Meaning:
A faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask
Synonyms:
hydrant; tap; water faucet; water tap
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("tap" is a kind of...):
faucet; spigot (a regulator for controlling the flow of a liquid from a reservoir)
plumbing fixture (a fixture for the distribution and use of water in a building)
Derivation:
tapster (a tavern keeper who taps kegs or casks)
Sense 7
Meaning:
The sound made by a gentle blow
Synonyms:
pat; rap; tap
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("tap" is a kind of...):
sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "tap"):
pitter-patter (a series of rapid tapping sounds)
Derivation:
tap (strike lightly)
tap (walk with a tapping sound)
tap (make light, repeated taps on a surface)
Sense 8
Meaning:
A gentle blow
Synonyms:
rap; strike; tap
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Hypernyms ("tap" is a kind of...):
blow; bump (an impact (as from a collision))
Derivation:
tap (strike lightly)
tap (make light, repeated taps on a surface)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they tap ... he / she / it taps
Past simple: tapped
Past participle: tapped
-ing form: tapping
Sense 1
Meaning:
Make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently
Example:
My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
ask for; bespeak; call for; quest; request (express the need or desire for)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tap"):
quest (seek alms, as for religious purposes)
canvass (solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign)
buttonhole; lobby (detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something from somebody
Sense 2
Meaning:
Draw from; make good use of
Example:
we must exploit the resources we are given wisely
Synonyms:
exploit; tap
Classified under:
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tap"):
maximise; maximize (make the most of)
harness (exploit the power of)
mine (get from the earth by excavation)
quarry (extract (something such as stones) from or as if from a quarry)
overexploit (exploit excessively)
commercialize (exploit for maximal profit, usually by sacrificing quality)
milk (exploit as much as possible)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Strike lightly
Example:
He tapped me on the shoulder
Synonyms:
tap; tip
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tap"):
percuss (strike or tap firmly)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Derivation:
tapper (a person who strikes a surface lightly and usually repeatedly)
tap (a gentle blow)
tap (the sound made by a gentle blow)
tap (a light touch or stroke)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Cut a female screw thread with a tap
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
cut (separate with or as if with an instrument)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
tap (a tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads)
tapper (a worker who uses a tap to cut screw threads)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Pierce in order to draw a liquid from
Example:
tap a keg of beer
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
pierce (make a hole into)
Verb group:
tap (furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
tap (a plug for a bunghole in a cask)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Draw (liquor) from a tap
Example:
tap beer in a bar
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
draw; take out (take liquid out of a container or well)
Verb group:
tap (furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
tap (a plug for a bunghole in a cask)
tapper (a tavern keeper who taps kegs or casks)
Sense 7
Meaning:
Dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes
Example:
Glover tapdances better than anybody
Synonyms:
tap; tapdance
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
dance; trip the light fantastic; trip the light fantastic toe (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue tap
Derivation:
tap (a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing))
tapper (a dancer who sounds out rhythms by using metal taps on the toes and heels of the shoes)
Sense 8
Meaning:
Walk with a tapping sound
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
walk (use one's feet to advance; advance by steps)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Sentence example:
The children tap to the playground
Derivation:
tap (the sound made by a gentle blow)
Sense 9
Meaning:
Make light, repeated taps on a surface
Example:
he was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
tap (a light touch or stroke)
tap (the sound made by a gentle blow)
tap (a gentle blow)
tapping (the sound of light blow or knock)
Sense 10
Meaning:
Tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information
Example:
Is this hotel room bugged?
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
eavesdrop; listen in (listen without the speaker's knowledge)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
tap (the act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information)
tapper (someone who wiretaps a telephone or telegraph wire)
Sense 11
Meaning:
Draw from or dip into to get something
Example:
tap a source of money
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
draw; draw off; take out; withdraw (remove (a commodity) from (a supply source))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP
Sense 12
Meaning:
Furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it
Example:
tap a cask of wine
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "tap" is one way to...):
furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)
Verb group:
tap (pierce in order to draw a liquid from)
tap (draw (liquor) from a tap)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
tap (a plug for a bunghole in a cask)
tapper (a tavern keeper who taps kegs or casks)
Context examples:
This novel technology requires no behaviour change or effort by users — safe water comes straight out of the tap.
(Chlorine dispensers fitted to public taps cut child diarrhoea, SciDev.Net)
There was a tap at a door, a bull's bellow from within, and I was face to face with the Professor.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Possible tests include nerve tests and a spinal tap.
(Guillain-Barre Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Turning his back upon us he laid down his burden, and the next instant there was the sound of a sharp tap, followed by a clatter and rattle.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
If you are discussing a creative project, you will be enthusiastic about it, for it will tap your finest talents.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
So she left the pan on the fire and took a large jug and went into the cellar and tapped the ale cask.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Advanced algorithms were then used to tap into the data generated to work out where galaxies were picking up all their matter from.
(Half Our Body's Atoms Could Have Come from Outside The Galaxy, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
The resinous oil tapped from the trunks of Copaifera reticulata.
(Copaiba Oil, NCI Thesaurus)
A diagnostic test performed on a tooth by tapping on the crown with a dental instrument.
(Dental Percussion, NCI Thesaurus)
"You poor devil," he said gently, rubbing White Fang's ears and tapping his spine.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
