rap
1 of 6noun (1)
ˈrap 
1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp rebuke or criticism
b
: a negative and often undeserved reputation or charge —often used with bum or bad
given a bum rap by the press
3
a
: the responsibility for or adverse consequences of an action
refused to take the rap
b
: a criminal charge
c
: a prison sentence
rap
2 of 6verb (1)
rapped; rapping
transitive verb
1
: to strike with a sharp blow
2
: to utter suddenly and forcibly
3
: to cause to be or come by raps
rap the meeting to order
4
: to criticize sharply
intransitive verb
1
: to strike a quick sharp blow
2
: to make a short sharp sound
rap
3 of 6verb (2)
rapped also rapt ˈrapt ; rapping
; rapping transitive verb
1
: to snatch away or upward
2
: enrapture
rap
4 of 6noun (2)
: a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
doesn't care a rap
rap
5 of 6verb (3)
rapped; rapping
intransitive verb
1
: to talk freely and frankly
2
: to perform rap music
rap
6 of 6noun (3)
1
: talk, conversation
also : a line of talk : patter
2
a
: a type of music of African American origin in which rhythmic and usually rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment
enjoys listening to rap
—often used before another noun rap musica rap album/artist/song
b
: a rap song
… the group mixes its usual raunch with mock news reports and anti-censorship raps …
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- charge
- complaint
- count
- indictment
Verb (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Verb (2)
- carry away
- enrapture
- enthrall
- enthral
- entrance
- rapture
- ravish
- transport
Noun (2)
- beans
- bubkes
- bupkes
- bupkus
- continental
- damn
- darn
- durn
- diddly [slang]
- diddly-squat [slang]
- doodley-squat
- doodly-squat
- fig
- ghost
- hoot
- iota
- jot
- lick
- modicum
- squat [slang]
- syllable
- tittle
- whit
- whoop
Verb (3)
- babble
- blab
- cackle
- chaffer [British]
- chat
- chatter
- chin [slang]
- converse
- gab
- gabble
- gas
- jabber
- jaw
- kibitz
- kibbitz
- natter
- palaver
- patter
- prate
- prattle
- rattle
- run on
- schmooze
- shmooze
- talk
- visit
Noun (3)
- backchat
- cackle
- causerie
- chat
- chatter
- chin music
- chin-wag [slang]
- chitchat
- confab
- confabulation
- gab
- gabfest
- gossip
- jangle
- jaw
- natter [chiefly British]
- palaver
- patter
- schmooze
- small talk
- table talk
- talk
- tête-à-tête
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English rappe
Verb (2)
back-formation from rapt
Noun (2)
perhaps from rap entry 1
Verb (3)
perhaps from rap entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1834, in the meaning defined above
Verb (3)
1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (3)
1967, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing rap
Kids Definition
rap 1 of 4
verb
ˈrap
rapped; rapping
: to give a quick sharp blow
rap
2 of 4noun
1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
: the blame or punishment for something
You did it, so you take the rap.
rap
3 of 4verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to talk freely and informally
2
: to perform rap music
rap
4 of 4noun
1
: an informal talk : chat
2
: a type of music that usually has a fast rhythm and in which words are spoken instead of sung
rap 1 of 6
noun (1)
1
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- indictment
- count
- charge
- allegation
- accusation
- complaint
- plea
- condemnation
- crimination
- denunciation
- impeachment
- insinuation
- innuendo
- arraignment
- implication
- counteraccusation
- countercharge
- censure
- incrimination
- imputation
- recrimination
2
as in thump
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes Synonyms & Similar Words
- thump
- blow
- slap
- hit
- punch
- beat
- whack
- swipe
- thud
- knock
- smack
- slam
- clip
- spank
- bang
- stroke
- lick
- poke
- pound
- bop
- clap
- crack
- hook
- belt
- chop
- smash
- switch
- hack
- bash
- sock
- kick
- bat
- slug
- lash
- cuff
- bust
- buffet
- biff
- swat
- pelt
- haymaker
- clout
- stripe
- dab
- box
- pick
- beating
- stinger
- wham
- plump
- swing
- pounding
- thwack
- knee
- welt
- whop
- wallop
- fillip
- licking
- counter
- larrup
- douse
- hand
- whap
- whip
- hammering
- left
- whipping
- right
- counterpunch
- counterblow
- body blow
- pummeling
- knockout
- rabbit punch
- roundhouse
- counterstroke
- battering
- thrashing
- sucker punch
- knockdown
- shiver
- uppercut
- flogging
- bludgeoning
- cudgeling
- clobbering
- cruncher
- bastinado
- sidewinder
- drubbing
- kayo
- cudgelling
- pummelling
- lambasting
- pasting
- walloping
- one-two
- bastinade
- KO
- right-hander
3
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend Synonyms & Similar Words
- blame
- guilt
- culpability
- fault
- condemnation
- accusation
- denunciation
- onus
- guiltiness
- complicity
- sinfulness
- censure
- blameworthiness
- regret
- shame
- finger-pointing
- remorse
- reproach
- self-reproach
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- innocence
- guiltlessness
- faultlessness
- blamelessness
rap
2 of 6noun (2)
as in talk
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park Synonyms & Similar Words
- talk
- chat
- chatter
- gossip
- small talk
- chin music
- discourse
- chitchat
- patter
- gab
- debate
- dialogue
- table talk
- schmooze
- natter
- gabfest
- jaw
- palaver
- cackle
- confab
- exchange
- tête-à-tête
- causerie
- conference
- jangle
- chin-wag
- confabulation
- backchat
- symposium
- dialog
- yak
- colloquy
- happy talk
- yack
- parley
- yammer
- crosstalk
- yap
- give-and-take
rap
3 of 6noun (3)
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket Synonyms & Similar Words
- damn
- lick
- hoot
- whit
- little
- syllable
- shred
- continental
- squat
- doodly-squat
- ghost
- beans
- doodley-squat
- whoop
- darn
- fig
- bit
- jot
- tittle
- bupkes
- diddly-squat
- modicum
- diddly
- pin
- durn
- touch
- scrap
- bubkes
- ace
- hint
- particle
- iota
- peanuts
- trace
- spot
- ray
- dab
- strain
- mite
- sprinkling
- ounce
- streak
- speck
- nip
- bupkus
- crumb
- suspicion
- glimmer
- snap
- semblance
- driblet
- smidgen
- shadow
- shade
- smidge
- skosh
- smidgin
- scruple
- smidgeon
rap
4 of 6verb (1)
1
as in to slam
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store Synonyms & Similar Words
- slam
- smack
- slap
- hit
- punch
- clip
- bang
- knock
- clap
- crack
- whack
- strike
- bop
- pound
- bat
- swipe
- bash
- thump
- nail
- kick
- tag
- box
- belt
- hammer
- slug
- jab
- sock
- tap
- flick
- bludgeon
- lick
- shove
- biff
- whale
- chop
- clout
- bob
- bust
- clock
- push
- poke
- stab
- bonk
- swat
- thwack
- beat
- zap
- paste
- bump
- wallop
- clobber
- smite
- slog
- rough
- stroke
- buffet
- cuff
- batter
- butt
- maul
- slash
- pepper
- mangle
- stamp
- bung
- pummel
- lace
- hang one on
- whip
- deck
- club
- pelt
- bunt
- knee
- prod
- dump
- cream
- drub
- lash
- thrash
- scuff
- level
- cudgel
- bean
- floor
- knock down
- lambaste
- brain
- skull
- switch
- pommel
- sledgehammer
- sledge
- cane
- spear
- jostle
- conk
- fell
- lambast
- sucker punch
- rabbit-punch
- sap
- flail
- flog
- bowl (down or over)
2
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant Synonyms & Similar Words
- drum
- tap
- bang
- beat
- pat
- bop
- pound
- clap
- hit
- slam
- bat
- knock
- smack
- thump
- whack
- bash
- sock
- hammer
- thud
- bonk
- flick
- click
- ping
- thwack
- paste
- swat
- strike
- clatter
- tip
- wallop
- clink
- chink
- chuck
- pitter-patter
- pit-a-pat
rap
5 of 6verb (2)
as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball Synonyms & Similar Words
- chat
- talk
- converse
- rattle
- patter
- chatter
- blow smoke
- babble
- gas
- jabber
- prattle
- run on
- gab
- natter
- gabble
- schmooze
- gossip
- chin
- chew the rag
- twitter
- prate
- palaver
- cackle
- shoot the breeze
- jaw
- chew the fat
- kibbitz
- shmooze
- discuss
- blab
- chaffer
- talk a blue streak
- kibitz
- tattle
- visit
- yak
- expatiate
- descant
- yammer
- yack
- yap
rap
6 of 6verb (3)
1
as in to transport
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio Synonyms & Similar Words
- transport
- entrance
- rapture
- carry away
- delight
- please
- enrapture
- satisfy
- knock dead
- ravish
- enchant
- enthrall
- fascinate
- enthral
- knock one's socks off
- charm
- stir
- gratify
- captivate
- elate
- gladden
- excite
- bewitch
- exhilarate
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent Synonyms & Similar Words
- grab
- catch
- trap
- land
- snatch
- cop
- hook
- get
- capture
- seize
- snare
- nail
- bag
- net
- collar
- grapple
- snag
- rope
- nab
- corral
- arrest
- nobble
- glove
- clutch
- fist
- grasp
- snap (up)
- take hold (of)
- grip
- kidnap
- glom
- mesh
- apprehend
- hold
- corner
- halter
- bay
- secure
- lasso
- detain
- clasp
- rend
- latch (on or onto)
- fasten (on)
- entrap
- abduct
- ensnare
- wrest
- immesh
- enmesh
- entangle
- spirit (away or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miss
- drop
- release
- free
- discharge
- liberate
- loosen
- unhand