harp

1 of 2

noun

ˈhärp

: a plucked stringed instrument consisting of a resonator, an arched or angled neck that may be supported by a post, and strings of graded length that are perpendicular to the soundboard

: something resembling a harp

: harmonica sense 2

harpist

ˈhär-pist

noun

harp

2 of 2

verb

harped; harping; harps

intransitive verb

: to play on a harp

: to dwell on or recur to a subject tiresomely or monotonously

—usually used with on

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The way Price throws himself into a song, or onto his knees during an especially intense harp solo.

Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, al, 30 Aug. 2022 The raylike accompaniment emanated from a long-necked harp called the kora, plucked by a brawny monk in the choir’s front row.

Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Last year, lack of sea ice led to the canceling of les blanchons sur la banquise, an event that allows tourists to observe adult harp seals nurturing their whitecoats, as the newborn pups are known, on the ice banks.

Taras Grescoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2022 With a full band of guitars, violin, cello, harp, multiple percussion instruments, and Groban's deep vocals carrying each song, the AMP was full of harmonies all night.

Arkansas Online, 22 July 2022 Celtic harp, flute, violin and various smaller percussion instruments performed a pastoral, thematic soundtrack.

Josh Chesler, SPIN, 20 July 2022 There’s an Eames chair, a concert harp, and a grand piano.

Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 2 July 2022 As the symphony nears its end, the harp repeats a quiet A-sharp associated with the name Larissa, handwritten in the score, while the brass mimic the sound of fading breath in whisper-soft exhalations.

Barbara Jepson, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 The late-night performance featured Deck playing the celtic harp, Rechel on bass, and Seda on cello.

Shealagh Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2022

Verb

But only a fool would harp on picayune flaws when this rich material is being served with such musical polish and sensitivity.

Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Not to harp on Denmark, but SciAm just reported on crowd behavior in that country during the pandemic.

Josh Fischman, Scientific American, 2 Aug. 2022 As for the remaining risks and naysayers and resisters, there’s not a lot left to harp about, adds Shear.

Peter Lane Taylor, Forbes, 7 May 2022 There was something to harp on, 21 turnovers, but Georgetown only scored 12 points off them.

Dom Amore, courant.com, 21 Feb. 2022 As the preteen Mary transitioned from piano rehearsals to harp recitals, her mother recognized that her daughter wasn’t motivated by such strictures.

New York Times, 26 Oct. 2021 Unfortunately, most people tend to harp on the random or isolated bad forecast that impacted their cookout and then make sweeping (inaccurate) assessments.

Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2021 When coaches harp on execution, that seems to be a big factor.

David Furones, sun-sentinel.com, 5 Oct. 2021 Republicans harp on monthly data reports, convinced that attacking the Biden White House on rapid price gains is a winning political strategy.

New York Times, 27 Aug. 2021 See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English harpe, going back to Old English hearpe (feminine weak noun), going back to Germanic *harpōn- (whence also Old Saxon harpa "harp, rack, gridiron for torture" Old High German harpha, harfa "harp, gridiron for torture," Old Norse harpa "harp"), of uncertain origin

Note: As a source for Middle English harpe compare also Anglo-French and continental Old French harpe, borrowed from Germanic. The sixth-century poet and hymnodist Venantius Fortunatus, resident at the Merovingian court, attests the word in Latin: "Romanusque lyra plaudat tibi, barbarus harpa …" ("Let the Roman applaud you with the lyre, the barbarian with the harp …").

Verb

Middle English harpen "to play a harp, pluck" (also harpen on "repeat [something] constantly"), going back to Old English hearpian "to play the harp," derivative of hearpe harp entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

单词	harp
释义	harp 1 of 2 noun ˈhärp 1 : a plucked stringed instrument consisting of a resonator, an arched or angled neck that may be supported by a post, and strings of graded length that are perpendicular to the soundboard 2 : something resembling a harp 3 : harmonica sense 2 harpist ˈhär-pist noun Illustration of harp harp 1 harp 2 of 2 verb harped; harping; harps intransitive verb 1 : to play on a harp 2 : to dwell on or recur to a subject tiresomely or monotonously —usually used with on Synonyms Verb belabor dwell (on or upon) See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Noun The way Price throws himself into a song, or onto his knees during an especially intense harp solo. Mary Colurso \| Mcolurso@al.com, al, 30 Aug. 2022 The raylike accompaniment emanated from a long-necked harp called the kora, plucked by a brawny monk in the choir’s front row. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Last year, lack of sea ice led to the canceling of les blanchons sur la banquise, an event that allows tourists to observe adult harp seals nurturing their whitecoats, as the newborn pups are known, on the ice banks. Taras Grescoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2022 With a full band of guitars, violin, cello, harp, multiple percussion instruments, and Groban's deep vocals carrying each song, the AMP was full of harmonies all night. Arkansas Online, 22 July 2022 Celtic harp, flute, violin and various smaller percussion instruments performed a pastoral, thematic soundtrack. Josh Chesler, SPIN, 20 July 2022 There’s an Eames chair, a concert harp, and a grand piano. Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 2 July 2022 As the symphony nears its end, the harp repeats a quiet A-sharp associated with the name Larissa, handwritten in the score, while the brass mimic the sound of fading breath in whisper-soft exhalations. Barbara Jepson, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 The late-night performance featured Deck playing the celtic harp, Rechel on bass, and Seda on cello. Shealagh Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2022 Verb But only a fool would harp on picayune flaws when this rich material is being served with such musical polish and sensitivity. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Not to harp on Denmark, but SciAm just reported on crowd behavior in that country during the pandemic. Josh Fischman, Scientific American, 2 Aug. 2022 As for the remaining risks and naysayers and resisters, there’s not a lot left to harp about, adds Shear. Peter Lane Taylor, Forbes, 7 May 2022 There was something to harp on, 21 turnovers, but Georgetown only scored 12 points off them. Dom Amore, courant.com, 21 Feb. 2022 As the preteen Mary transitioned from piano rehearsals to harp recitals, her mother recognized that her daughter wasn’t motivated by such strictures. New York Times, 26 Oct. 2021 Unfortunately, most people tend to harp on the random or isolated bad forecast that impacted their cookout and then make sweeping (inaccurate) assessments. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2021 When coaches harp on execution, that seems to be a big factor. David Furones, sun-sentinel.com, 5 Oct. 2021 Republicans harp on monthly data reports, convinced that attacking the Biden White House on rapid price gains is a winning political strategy. New York Times, 27 Aug. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Noun Middle English harpe, going back to Old English hearpe (feminine weak noun), going back to Germanic harpōn- (whence also Old Saxon harpa* "harp, rack, gridiron for torture" Old High German harpha, harfa "harp, gridiron for torture," Old Norse harpa "harp"), of uncertain origin Note: As a source for Middle English harpe compare also Anglo-French and continental Old French harpe, borrowed from Germanic. The sixth-century poet and hymnodist Venantius Fortunatus, resident at the Merovingian court, attests the word in Latin: "Romanusque lyra plaudat tibi, barbarus harpa …" ("Let the Roman applaud you with the lyre, the barbarian with the harp …"). Verb Middle English harpen "to play a harp, pluck" (also harpen on "repeat [something] constantly"), going back to Old English hearpian "to play the harp," derivative of hearpe harp entry 1 First Known Use Noun before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing harp harp on harp at harp seal wind harp mouth harp Jew's harp aeolian harp harp on harp at harp seal wind harp mouth harp Jew's harp aeolian harp See More Kids Definition harp 1 of 2 noun ˈhärp : a musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame set with strings that are plucked by the fingers harp 2 of 2 verb harped; harping : to call attention to something over and over again The teacher harped on her mistake.
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harp

noun

Illustration of harp

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing harp

Kids Definition

noun

verb