nap

noun

/næp/

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[countable] a short sleep, especially during the day synonym snooze
- to take/have a nap
- I had a short nap after lunch.
Synonyms sleep
sleep
- doze
- nap
- snooze
These words all mean to rest with your eyes closed and your mind and body not active.
- sleep to rest with your eyes shut and your mind and body not active:
  Did you sleep well?
  I couldn’t sleep last night.
  It is more usual to say that somebody is asleep than that they are sleeping; but if you use an adverb to say how they are sleeping, use sleeping: ‘What’s Ashley doing?’ ‘Sh! She’s asleep.’ • The baby was sleeping peacefully. • The baby was asleep peacefully.
- doze to sleep lightly, waking up easily, often when you are not in bed:
  He was dozing in front of the TV.
- nap to sleep for a short time, especially during the day.
- snooze (informal) to sleep lightly for a short time, especially during the day and usually not in bed:
  My brother was snoozing on the sofa.
Patterns
- to sleep/doze lightly/fitfully
- to doze/snooze gently
compare siesta see also catnap, power nap
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- brief
- little
- quick
- …
verb + nap
- have
- take
See full entry
[singular] the short fine threads on the surface of some types of cloth, usually lying in the same direction
[countable] (British English) advice given by an expert on which horse is most likely to win a race

Word Originnoun sense 1 Old English hnappian, probably of Germanic origin. noun sense 2 late Middle English noppe, from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German noppe ‘nap’, noppen ‘trim the nap from’. noun sense 3 early 19th cent.: abbreviation of napoleon, the original name of the card game.

nap

verb

/næp/

[intransitive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they nap	/næp/ /næp/
he / she / it naps	/næps/ /næps/
past simple napped	/næpt/ /næpt/
past participle napped	/næpt/ /næpt/
-ing form napping	/ˈnæpɪŋ/ /ˈnæpɪŋ/

Idioms

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to sleep for a short time, especially during the day
- I tried to nap on the plane.
see also power-nap
Extra Examples
- During the flight you are advised to nap if possible.
- Studies show that napping at work can help keep you alert and refreshed.
- Try not to nap during the day.
Word Originverb Old English hnappian, probably of Germanic origin.

Idioms

catch somebody napping

to get an advantage over somebody by doing something when they are not expecting it and not ready for it