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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

tap.

A conical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container.

3 characters1 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/tæp/General-American, Received-Pronunciation[tʰæp]General-American, Received-Pronunciation/tɐːp/South-Wales
  1. A conical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container.

  2. An object with a tapering conical form like a tap (etymology 1, noun sense 1); specifically, ellipsis of taproot (“long, tapering root of a plant”).

    broadly
  3. A hollow device used to control the flow of a fluid, such as an alcoholic beverage from a cask, or a gas or liquid in a pipe.

    broadly
    We don’t have bottled water; you’ll have to get it from the tap.
    Is the tap water here safe to drink?
  4. A hollow device used to control the flow of a fluid, such as an alcoholic beverage from a cask, or a gas or liquid in a pipe. A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity; paracentesis.

    broadly · informal
    abdominal tap    pleural tap    spinal tap
  5. Liquor drawn through a tap (etymology 1, noun sense 2.2); hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; also (figurative, informal), a certain kind or quality of any thing.

    broadly
    a liquor of the same tap
  6. A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications.

    broadly
  7. A secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; also, a recording of such a communication.

    broadly
    telephone tap
  8. A situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time, usually at a fixed price, with volumes sold on a particular day dependent on market conditions.

    broadly
    bond tap    tap issue
  9. A cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole, with cutting edges around the lower end and an upper end to which a handle is fitted to turn the tool.

    broadly
    We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve’s thread.
  10. Ellipsis of taphouse or taproom (“place where alcoholic beverages are served on tap”).

    UK · abbreviation · alt-of · broadly · ellipsis
  11. A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it; a tapping.

    UK · broadly
    The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill-advised taps along its length.
Where this word comes from

The noun is derived from Middle English tappe (“hollow device for controlling the flow of liquid from a hole, cock, faucet, spigot; hole through which the liquid flows; the liquid which thus flows”), from Old English tæppa, from Proto-West Germanic *tappō, from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“a plug, tap; peg; tapering stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tapa. The verb is derived from Middle English tappen (“to obtain (liquid, chiefly liquor) from a tap; to obtain and sell (liquor)”), from Old English tæppian (“to provide (a container) with a stopper; to obtain (liquid) from a tap”), and then either: * from Old English tæppa (see above) + -ian (suffix forming verbs); or * from Proto-Germanic *tappōną, from *tappô (noun) (see above). Verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.5 (“to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round”) alludes to the abilities or resources of the card or piece having been drawn on to the point of temporary exhaustion: see verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.2.

verb/tæp/General-American, Received-Pronunciation[tʰæp]General-American, Received-Pronunciation/tɐːp/South-Wales
  1. To furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.2) so that liquid can be drawn.

    broadly · transitive
  2. To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source).

    transitive
    He tapped the ten-year-old whiskey from its barrel.
    If we tap the maple trees, we can get maple syrup.
  3. To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source). To drain off fluid from (a person or a body cavity) by paracentesis.

    informal · transitive
  4. To break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something; to exploit, to penetrate; tap into.

    figuratively · transitive
    Businesses are trying to tap the youth market.
    He tried to tap cable television without a subscription.
  5. To deplete (something); to tap out.

    figuratively · transitive
  6. To ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to cadge, to scrounge; also, to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free.

    figuratively · informal · transitive
    I tried to tap a cigarette off him, but he wouldn’t give me one.
  7. To connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; also, to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication).

    figuratively · transitive
    They can’t tap the phone without a warrant.
  8. To turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round.

    figuratively · transitive
  9. To force (an opponent) to place all their poker chips in the pot (that is, to go all in) by wagering all of one's own chips.

    figuratively · transitive
  10. To remove a taproot from (a plant).

    transitive
  11. To cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); also, to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole, or to create an internally threaded hole in (something).

    transitive
    Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.
  12. To cut an external screw thread into (a bolt or rod) to create a screw.

    transitive
  13. To put (a screw or other object) in or through another thing.

    transitive
  14. To act as a tapster; to draw an alcoholic beverage from a container.

    intransitive
  15. To spend money, etc., freely.

    intransitive · obsolete
Where this word comes from

The noun is derived from Middle English tappe (“hollow device for controlling the flow of liquid from a hole, cock, faucet, spigot; hole through which the liquid flows; the liquid which thus flows”), from Old English tæppa, from Proto-West Germanic *tappō, from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“a plug, tap; peg; tapering stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tapa. The verb is derived from Middle English tappen (“to obtain (liquid, chiefly liquor) from a tap; to obtain and sell (liquor)”), from Old English tæppian (“to provide (a container) with a stopper; to obtain (liquid) from a tap”), and then either: * from Old English tæppa (see above) + -ian (suffix forming verbs); or * from Proto-Germanic *tappōną, from *tappô (noun) (see above). Verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.5 (“to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round”) alludes to the abilities or resources of the card or piece having been drawn on to the point of temporary exhaustion: see verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.2.

verb/tæp/General-American, Received-Pronunciation[tʰæp]General-American, Received-Pronunciation/tɐːp/South-Wales
  1. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard.

    transitive
    Emma tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
  2. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. Also in the form tap on the shoulder: to arrest (someone).

    slang · transitive
  3. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. To have sexual intercourse with (someone).

    slang · transitive · vulgar
    I would tap that hot girl over there.
    I’d tap that.
  4. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. To shoot (someone or something) with a firearm.

    slang · transitive
  5. To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly.

    transitive
    You can pay by tapping your card.
    He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table.
  6. To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. To lightly touch a touchscreen, usually an icon or button, to activate a function.

    transitive
  7. To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. To lightly and repeatedly touch (a person or one or more body parts) as part of various forms of psychological treatment.

    transitive
  8. To force (an opponent) to submit, chiefly by indicating their intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out.

    transitive
  9. To invoke a function on an electronic device such as a mobile phone by touching (a button, icon, or specific location on its touch screen).

    transitive
  10. To repair (an item of footwear) by putting on a new heel or sole, or a piece of material on to the heel or sole.

    UK · US · dialectal · transitive
    to tap shoes
  11. To choose or designate (someone) for a duty, an honour, membership of an organization, or a position.

    US · informal · transitive
    He was tapped by the president to act as a special counsel.
  12. Often followed by at or on: to strike lightly with a clear sound; also, to make a sharp noise through this action.

    intransitive
    The tree was swaying in the breeze and tapping on the window pane.
  13. To walk by striking the ground lightly with a clear sound.

    intransitive
  14. Of a bell, a drum, etc.: to make a sharp noise, often as a signal.

    intransitive
  15. To submit to an opponent, chiefly by indicating an intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out.

    intransitive
  16. Of a hare or rabbit: to strike the ground repeatedly with its feet during the rutting season.

    intransitive · obsolete
Where this word comes from

The verb is derived from Middle English tappen, teppen (“to give (something) a knock or tap; to hit (something) lightly, pat, tap”), either: * imitative of the making of a tapping sound; or * from Old French tapper, taper (“to tap”) (modern French taper), from Frankish *tappōn, *dabbōn (“to strike”), or from Middle Low German tappen, tapen (“to rap, strike, tap”), or from Proto-Germanic *tabōną (“to grope, to grapple, to claw”), maybe via a Old Norse *tapa (“to strike”), as seen in the derivative tapsa (“to tap”) Doublet of dab and tave. Verb etymology 2, verb sense 1.1.1 (“to arrest (someone)”) and etymology 2, verb sense 1.6 (“to choose or designate (someone) for a duty, etc.”) allude to a police officer or other person tapping someone on their shoulder to catch their attention or to select them. The noun is derived from Middle English tap, tappe (“light blow or hit”), and then either: * from Middle English tappen (verb) (see above); or * from Old French tape (“light slap or touch, pat”) (modern French tape), from tapper, taper (verb) (see above). Cognates * German tappen (“to fumble; to grope”) * Icelandic tappa, tapsa, tæpta (“to tap”)

noun/tæp/General-American, Received-Pronunciation[tʰæp]General-American, Received-Pronunciation/tɐːp/South-Wales
  1. A light blow or strike with a clear sound; a gentle rap; a pat; also, the sound made by such a blow or strike.

    countable · uncountable
    When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.
  2. The smallest amount of work; a stroke of work.

    countable · informal · uncountable
  3. One of the metal pieces attached to the sole of a tap dancer's shoe at the toe and heel to cause a tapping sound.

    countable · uncountable
  4. A shot fired from a firearm.

    countable · slang · uncountable
  5. An act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen of an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function.

    countable · uncountable
  6. A single muscle contraction in vocal organs causing a consonant sound; also, the sound so made.

    countable · uncountable
  7. A piece of leather or other material fastened upon the bottom of an item of footwear when repairing the heel or sole; also (England, dialectal) the sole of an item of footwear.

    UK · US · countable · dialectal · uncountable
  8. Ellipsis of tap dance.

    abbreviation · alt-of · ellipsis · uncountable
Where this word comes from

The verb is derived from Middle English tappen, teppen (“to give (something) a knock or tap; to hit (something) lightly, pat, tap”), either: * imitative of the making of a tapping sound; or * from Old French tapper, taper (“to tap”) (modern French taper), from Frankish *tappōn, *dabbōn (“to strike”), or from Middle Low German tappen, tapen (“to rap, strike, tap”), or from Proto-Germanic *tabōną (“to grope, to grapple, to claw”), maybe via a Old Norse *tapa (“to strike”), as seen in the derivative tapsa (“to tap”) Doublet of dab and tave. Verb etymology 2, verb sense 1.1.1 (“to arrest (someone)”) and etymology 2, verb sense 1.6 (“to choose or designate (someone) for a duty, etc.”) allude to a police officer or other person tapping someone on their shoulder to catch their attention or to select them. The noun is derived from Middle English tap, tappe (“light blow or hit”), and then either: * from Middle English tappen (verb) (see above); or * from Old French tape (“light slap or touch, pat”) (modern French tape), from tapper, taper (verb) (see above). Cognates * German tappen (“to fumble; to grope”) * Icelandic tappa, tapsa, tæpta (“to tap”)

noun/tæp/General-American, Received-Pronunciation[tʰæp]General-American, Received-Pronunciation/tɐːp/South-Wales
  1. A malarial fever.

    East · India · uncountable
Where this word comes from

From Persian or Urdu تب (tab, “malarial fever”), ultimately from Sanskrit ताप (tāpa, “fever; heat; pain, torment”).

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Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.