Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense taps, present participle tapping, past tense, past participle tapped
1. countable noun
A tap is a device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas from a pipe or container, for example on a sink.
[mainly British]
She turned on the taps.
...a cold-water tap.
The honey runs out of a tap at the bottom of the drum.
regional note: in AM, use faucet
Synonyms: valve, spout, faucet [US, Canadian], spigot More Synonyms of tap
2. verb
If you tap something, you hit it with a quick light blow or a series of quick light blows.
He tapped the table to still the shouts of protest. [VERB noun]
Tap the eggs gently with a teaspoon to crack the shells. [VERB noun]
Grace tapped on the bedroom door and went in. [VERB adverb/preposition]
There was a comfortable-looking clerk on duty, tapping away on a manual typewriter. [VERB adverb/preposition]
To hold the carpet in place, it's a good idea to tap in a few nails temporarily. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: knock, strike, pat, rap More Synonyms of tap
Tap is also a noun.
A tap on the door interrupted him and Sally Pierce came in. [+ on/at]
3. verb
If you tap your fingers or feet, you make a regular pattern of sound by hitting a surface lightly and repeatedly with them, especially while you are listening to music.
The song's so catchy it makes you bounce round the living room or tap your feet. [VERB noun]
4. verb
If you tap a resource or situation, you make use of it by getting from it something that you need or want.
He owes his election to having tapped deep public disillusion with professional politicians. [VERB noun]
The company is tapping shareholders for £15.8 million. [VERB noun + for]
The utility group has launched the company in an attempt to tap into the market forgreen energy. [VERB + into]
5. verb
If someone taps your phone, they attach a special device to the line so that they can secretly listen to your conversations.
The government passed laws allowing the police to tap phones. [VERB noun]
We suspected the telephone line was tapped. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: listen in on, monitor, bug [informal], spy on More Synonyms of tap
Tap is also a noun.
He assured MPs that they were not subjected to phone taps.
6.
See also phone-tapping, wiretap
7.
See on tap
8.
See on tap
Phrasal verbs:
See tap out
More Synonyms of tap
tap in British English1
(tæp)
verbWord forms: taps, tapping or tapped
1.
to strike (something) lightly and usually repeatedly
to tap the table
to tap on the table
2. (transitive)
to produce by striking in this way
to tap a rhythm
3. (transitive)
to strike lightly with (something)
to tap one's finger on the desk
4.
to touch the screen of an electronic device as a means of inputting a command
5. (intransitive)
to walk with a tapping sound
she tapped across the floor
6. (transitive)
to attach metal or leather reinforcing pieces to (the toe or heel of a shoe)
noun
7.
a light blow or knock, or the sound made by it
8.
an instance of touching the screen of an electronic device to enter a command
9.
the metal piece attached to the toe or heel of a shoe used for tap-dancing
10. short for tap-dancing
11. 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
tappable (ˈtappable)
adjective
Word origin
C13 tappen, probably from Old French taper, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German tappen to pluck, Swedish dialect täpa to tap
tap in British English2
(tæp)
noun
1.
a valve by which a fluid flow from a pipe can be controlled by opening and closing an orifice
US and Canadian name: faucet
2.
a stopper to plug a cask or barrel and enable the contents to be drawn out in a controlled flow
3.
a particular quality of alcoholic drink, esp when contained in casks
an excellent tap
4. British short for taproom
5.
the surgical withdrawal of fluid from a bodily cavity
a spinal tap
6. Also called: screw tap
a tool for cutting female screw threads, consisting of a threaded steel cylinder with longitudinal grooves forming cutting edges
Compare die2 (sense 2)
7. 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
8. stock exchange
a.
an issue of a government security released slowly onto the market when its market price reaches a predetermined level
b.
(as modifier)
tap stock
tap issue
9.
a concealed listening or recording device connected to a telephone or telegraph wire for the purpose of obtaining information secretly
10. on tap
verbWord forms: taps, tapping or tapped(transitive)
11.
to furnish with a tap
12.
to draw off with or as if with a tap
13.
to cut into (a tree) and draw off sap from it
14. British informal
to ask or beg (someone) for money
he tapped me for a fiver
15.
a.
to connect a tap to (a telephone or telegraph wire)
b.
to listen in secret to (a telephone message, etc) by means of a tap
16.
to make a connection to (a pipe, drain, etc)
17.
to cut a female screw thread in (an object or material) by use of a tap
18.
to withdraw (fluid) from (a bodily cavity)
19. 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
tappable (ˈtappable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English tæppa; related to Old Norse tappi tap, Old High German zapfo
tap in British English3
(tæp)
noun, verb
a Scot word for top1
tap in American English1
(tæp)
verb transitiveWord forms: tapped or ˈtapping
1.
to strike lightly and rapidly
2.
to strike something lightly, and often repeatedly, with
3.
to make or do by tapping
to tap a message with the fingers
4. US
to choose or designate, as for membership in a club
5.
to repair (a shoe) by adding a thickness of leather, etc. to the heel or sole
verb intransitive
6.
to strike a light, rapid blow or a series of such blows
7.
to perform a tap dance
8.
to move with a tapping sound
noun
9.
a light, rapid blow, or the sound made by it
10.
the leather, etc. added in tapping a shoe
11.
a.
a small, metal plate attached to the heel or toe of a shoe, as for tap-dancing
b.
the act or skill of tap-dancing
Derived forms
tapper (ˈtapper)
noun
Word origin
ME tappen < OFr taper, prob. of echoic orig.
tap in American English2
(tæp)
noun
1.
a device for starting or stopping the flow of liquid in a pipe, barrel, etc.; faucet
2.
a plug, cork, etc. for stopping a hole in a container holding a liquid
3.
liquor of a certain kind or quality, as drawn from a certain tap
4.
taproom
5.
the act or an instance of draining liquid, as from a body cavity
6.
a tool used to cut threads inside a nut, pipe, etc.
7. US
the act or an instance of wiretapping
8. Electricity
a place in a circuit where a connection can be made
verb transitiveWord forms: tapped or ˈtapping
9.
to put a tap or spigot on
10.
to make a hole in for drawing off liquid
to tap a sugar maple
11.
to pull out the tap or plug from
12.
to draw (liquid) from a container, cavity, etc.
13.
to draw upon; make use of
to tap new resources
14.
a.
to make a connection with (a water main, electrical circuit, etc.)
b. US
to make a secret connection with (a telephone line) in order to overhear or record private conversations
15.
to cut threads on the inner surface of (a nut, pipe, etc.)
16. Slang
to borrow or get money from
verb intransitive
17.
to use, draw upon, make a connection with, etc.
with into
Idioms:
on tap
Derived forms
tapper (ˈtapper)
noun
Word origin
ME tappe < OE tæppa, akin to Ice tappi < IE *dāp- < base *da-, to divide > tide1
tap in Mechanical Engineering
(tæp)
Word forms: (present) taps, (past) tapped, (perfect) tapped, (progressive) tapping
verb
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
If you tap an object or material, you cut a female screw thread in it using a specially designedtool.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ a bore~ a hole~ a thread
The tool can tap a thread right through a piece of steel to enable a bolt to be screwed into it.
If your block does not have two threaded mounting holes, then some will need to bedrilled and tapped to accept the pipe.
If you tap an object or material, you cut a female screw thread in it using a specially designedtool.
More idioms containing
tap
on tap
Word lists with
tap
America
In other languages
tap
British English: tap /tæp/ NOUN
A tap is a device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas from a pipe or container.
She turned on the tap and splashed her face with cold water.
American English: faucet
Arabic: حَنَفِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: torneira
Chinese: 龙头
Croatian: slavina
Czech: kohoutek vodovodní
Danish: hane vandhane
Dutch: kraan
European Spanish: grifo
Finnish: naputus
French: robinet
German: Wasserhahn
Greek: βρύση
Italian: rubinetto
Japanese: 軽くたたくこと
Korean: 가볍게 두드리기
Norwegian: tappekran
Polish: kurek
European Portuguese: torneira
Romanian: robinet
Russian: стук
Latin American Spanish: grifo
Swedish: kran
Thai: ก๊อก
Turkish: hafif vuruş
Ukrainian: кран
Vietnamese: vòi
British English: tap VERB
If you tap something, you hit it with a quick light blow or a series of quick light blows.
He tapped the table nervously with his fingers.
A man came and tapped on my shoulder.
American English: tap
Brazilian Portuguese: bater repetidamente
Chinese: 轻敲
European Spanish: dar golpecitos
French: tapoter sur
German: klopfen an
Italian: battere su
Japanese: 軽くたたく
Korean: 톡톡치다
European Portuguese: bater repetidamente
Latin American Spanish: dar golpecitos
All related terms of 'tap'
on tap
If drinks are on tap , they come from a tap rather than from a bottle .
tap-in
a goal scored without great effort by simply knocking the ball into the goal from close range
gas tap
a valve for controlling the release of gas
tap out
If you tap out a rhythm , a code , or a number, you indicate it by hitting a surface or a machine such as a telephone .
mixer tap
a tap in which hot and cold water supplies have a joint outlet but are controlled separately
phone tap
an instance of listening secretly, usually illegally, to someone's phone conversations using special electronic equipment
screw tap
a valve by which a fluid flow from a pipe can be controlled by opening and closing an orifice
tap dance
a step dance in which the performer wears shoes equipped with taps that make a rhythmic sound on the stage as he or she dances
tap pants
women's underpants cut loose and full, and wide in the legs , somewhat like shorts
tap shoes
shoes worn by tap-dancers which are equipped with taps that make a rhythmic sound when the shoes are used for dancing
tap swirl
a device used to direct the flow of water from a tap in a sink
tap water
Tap water is the water that comes out of a tap in a building such as a house or a hotel .
double tap
an act of firing a gun twice in rapid succession
spinal tap
a lumbar puncture , a procedure whereby a sample of spinal fluid is taken
tap dancer
A tap dancer is a dancer who does tap dancing .
tap dancing
Tap dancing is a style of dancing in which the dancers wear special shoes with pieces of metal on the heels and toes . The shoes make loud sharp sounds as the dancers move their feet .
doolally tap
out of one's mind
wiretap
If someone wiretaps your phone , they attach a special device to the line so that they can secretly listen to your conversations .
tapped
to strike (something) lightly and usually repeatedly
a slap on the wrist
A slap on the wrist is a warning or a punishment that is not very severe .
Chinese translation of 'tap'
tap
(tæp)
n(c)
(esp Brit, on sink, pipe etc) 龙(龍)头(頭) (lóngtóu) (个(個), gè)
美 = faucet
(= gentle blow) 轻(輕)敲 (qīngqiāo)
vt
(= hit gently) 轻(輕)拍 (qīngpāi)
[resources, energy]利用 (lìyòng)
[telephone]窃(竊)听(聽) (qiètīng)
on tap (inf, resources, information) 现(現)成的 (xiànchéng de) (beer) 散装的 (sǎnzhuāng de)
(verb)
Definition
to make a rhythmic sound with the hands or feet by lightly and repeatedly hitting a surface with them
Tap the egg lightly with a teaspoon.
Synonyms
knock
Knock at my window at eight o'clock and I'll be ready.
strike
She took two steps forward and struck him across the mouth.
pat
She patted me on the knee.
rap
A guard raps his stick on a metal hand rail.
beat
He lost the boxing match and was badly beaten by his opponent.
touch
As the aeroplane came down, the wing touched a pile of rubble.
drum
Rain drummed on the roof of the car.
(noun)
Definition
a light blow or knock, or the sound made by it
A tap on the door interrupted him.
Synonyms
knock
They heard a knock at the front door.
pat
He gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
rap
There was a light rap on the door.
beat
touch
Even a light touch on the face can trigger this pain.
drumming
light blow
1 (noun)
Definition
a valve by which the flow of a liquid or gas from a pipe can be controlled
She turned on the taps.
Synonyms
valve
spout
faucet (US, Canadian)
spigot
stopcock
2 (noun)
Definition
a concealed listening or recording device connected to a telephone
Ministers are not subject to phone taps.
Synonyms
bug (informal)
There was a bug on the phone.
listening device
wiretap
bugging device
hidden microphone
3 (noun)
Definition
a stopper to plug a cask or barrel
Synonyms
stopper
a bottle of colourless liquid sealed with a cork stopper
plug
A plug had been inserted in the drill hole.
bung
Pump the air out, then remove the bung.
spile
1 (verb)
Definition
to listen in on (a telephone conversation) secretly by making an illegal connection
laws allowing the police to tap telephones
Synonyms
listen in on
monitor
bug (informal)
He heard they were planning to bug his office.
spy on
eavesdrop on
wiretap
2 (verb)
Definition
to obtain something useful or desirable from (something)
She tapped her own experiences for her novels.
Synonyms
use
Officials used loud-hailers to call for calm.
draw on
make use of
mine
milk
A few people tried to milk the insurance companies.
exploit
The opposition are exploiting the situation to their advantage.
utilize
Sound engineers utilize a range of techniques.
put to use
turn to account
3 (verb)
Definition
to withdraw liquid from (something) as if through a tap
Synonyms
draw off
open
Let's open another bottle.
drain
machines to drain water out of the mines
pierce
bleed (informal)
They mean to bleed the common people dry.
broach
Our host will now show you how to broach a barrel of maple syrup.
siphon off
phrase
See on tap
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beat
Definition
to strike with a series of violent blows
He lost the boxing match and was badly beaten by his opponent.
Synonyms
batter,
break,
hit,
strike,
knock,
punch,
belt (informal),
whip,
deck (slang),
bruise,
bash (informal),
sock (slang),
lash,
chin (slang),
pound,
smack,
thrash,
cane,
thump,
lick (informal),
buffet,
clout (informal),
flog,
whack (informal),
maul,
clobber (slang),
wallop (informal),
tonk (informal),
cudgel,
thwack (informal),
lambast(e),
lay one on (slang),
drub,
tan (informal),
lam (informal),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of bleed
Definition
to obtain money, etc., from (someone), esp. by extortion
They mean to bleed the common people dry.
Synonyms
extort,
milk,
squeeze,
drain,
exhaust,
fleece
in the sense of broach
Definition
to tap or pierce (a container) to draw off (a liquid)
Our host will now show you how to broach a barrel of maple syrup.
Synonyms
open,
crack,
pierce,
puncture,
uncork
Synonyms of 'tap'
tap
Explore 'tap' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bung
Definition
a stopper, esp. of cork or rubber, used to close something such as a cask or flask
Pump the air out, then remove the bung.
Synonyms
stopper,
top,
cap,
seal,
cork,
plug,
spigot,
stopple
in the sense of drain
Definition
to draw off or remove (liquid) from
machines to drain water out of the mines
Synonyms
remove,
draw,
empty,
withdraw,
milk,
tap,
pump,
bleed (informal),
evacuate
in the sense of drum
Definition
to tap rhythmically or regularly
Rain drummed on the roof of the car.
Synonyms
pound,
beat,
tap,
rap,
lash,
thrash,
tattoo,
throb,
pulsate,
reverberate
in the sense of exploit
Definition
to make the best use of
The opposition are exploiting the situation to their advantage.
Synonyms
make the best use of,
use,
make use of,
utilize,
cash in on (informal),
capitalize on,
put to use,
make capital out of,
use to advantage,
use to good advantage,
live off the backs of,
turn to account,
profit by or from
in the sense of faucet
Definition
a tap fitted to a barrel
Synonyms
tap,
spout,
spigot,
stopcock,
valve
in the sense of milk
Definition
to extract as much money, help, or value as possible from
A few people tried to milk the insurance companies.
Synonyms
exploit,
use,
pump,
squeeze,
drain,
take advantage of,
bleed (informal),
impose on,
wring,
fleece,
suck dry
in the sense of open
Definition
to make or become open
Let's open another bottle.
Synonyms
uncork,
crack (open),
broach,
opN
in the sense of pat
Definition
to tap (someone or something) lightly with the hand
She patted me on the knee.
Synonyms
stroke,
touch,
tap,
pet,
slap,
dab,
caress,
fondle
in the sense of pat
Definition
a gentle tap or stroke
He gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
Synonyms
tap,
stroke,
slap,
clap,
dab,
light blow
in the sense of plug
Definition
an object used to block up holes or waste pipes
A plug had been inserted in the drill hole.
Synonyms
stopper,
cork,
bung,
spigot,
stopple
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rap
Definition
to knock loudly and sharply
A guard raps his stick on a metal hand rail.
Synonyms
hit,
strike,
knock,
crack (informal),
tap
in the sense of rap
Definition
a sharp quick blow or the sound produced by it
There was a light rap on the door.
Synonyms
blow,
knock,
crack (informal),
tap,
clout (informal)
in the sense of strike
Definition
to hit (someone)
She took two steps forward and struck him across the mouth.
Synonyms
hit,
smack,
thump,
pound,
beat,
box,
knock,
punch,
hammer,
deck (slang),
slap,
sock (slang),
chin (slang),
buffet,
clout (informal),
cuff,
clump (slang),
swipe,
clobber (slang),
smite,
wallop (informal),
lambast(e),
lay a finger on (informal),
lay one on (slang),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of touch
Definition
to come or bring (something) into contact with (something else)
As the aeroplane came down, the wing touched a pile of rubble.
Synonyms
tap,
hit,
strike,
push,
pat
in the sense of touch
Definition
a gentle push, tap, or caress
Even a light touch on the face can trigger this pain.