rap

noun

/ræp/

Idioms

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[countable] a quick, sharp hit or knock
- There was a sharp rap on the door.
[uncountable] a type of popular music with a fast strong rhythm and words which are spoken fast, not sung
- a rap song/artist
- one of the biggest artists on the rap scene
Homophones rap | wrap
rap wrap
- rap noun
  Hip-hop and rap have come to dominate the record charts.
- rap verb
  Teachers used to rap misbehaving pupils on the hand with a ruler.
- wrap verb
  We always wrap presents and leave them under the tree on Christmas Eve.
- wrap noun
  Cover the dough with plastic wrap and leave in the refrigerator.
CultureRap music first became popular in the early 1980s and well-known rappers include Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Jay-Z and Eminem. There are many styles of rap and it has had an important influence on other types of popular music. Some bands combine aspects of jazz and rap music while others, such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers mix it with rock and funk. It is also important to the music of many nu metal bands. One style of the music, gangsta rap, has been criticized for its violent songs.see also hip-hop
Topics Musicb2
[countable] a rap songTopics Musicb2
[countable] (North American English, informal) a criminal conviction (= the fact of being found guilty of a crime)
[singular] (North American English, informal) an unfair judgement on something or somebody
- He denounced the criticisms as ‘just one bum rap after another.’
- Wolves get a bad rap, says a woman who owns three.

Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the senses ‘severe blow with a weapon’ and ‘deliver a heavy blow’): probably imitative and of Scandinavian origin; compare with Swedish rappa ‘beat, drub’, also with the verb clap and flap.

Idioms

beat the rap

(North American English, slang) to escape without being punished

(give somebody/get) a rap on/over/across the knuckles

(informal) (to give somebody/receive) strong criticism for something
- We got a rap over the knuckles for being late.

take the rap (for somebody/something)

(informal) to be blamed or punished, especially for something you have not done synonym blame
- She was prepared to take the rap for the shoplifting, though it had been her sister's idea.

rap

verb

/ræp/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they rap	/ræp/ /ræp/
he / she / it raps	/ræps/ /ræps/
past simple rapped	/ræpt/ /ræpt/
past participle rapped	/ræpt/ /ræpt/
-ing form rapping	/ˈræpɪŋ/ /ˈræpɪŋ/

Idioms

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[intransitive, transitive] to hit a hard object or surface several times quickly, making a noise
- (+ adv./prep.) She rapped angrily on the door.
- He rapped on the window with his stick.
- rap something (+ adv./prep.) He rapped the table with his pen.
Homophones rap | wrap
rap wrap
- rap noun
  Hip-hop and rap have come to dominate the record charts.
- rap verb
  Teachers used to rap misbehaving pupils on the hand with a ruler.
- wrap verb
  We always wrap presents and leave them under the tree on Christmas Eve.
- wrap noun
  Cover the dough with plastic wrap and leave in the refrigerator.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- loudly
- sharply
- gently
- …
preposition
- on
- with
See full entry
[transitive] rap something (out) | + speech to say something suddenly and quickly in a loud, angry way
- He walked through the store, rapping out orders to his staff.
[transitive] rap somebody/something (for something/for doing something) (used mainly in newspapers) to criticize somebody severely, usually publicly
- Some of the teachers were rapped for poor performance.
[intransitive, transitive] rap (something) (music) to say the words of a rap see also rapperTopics Musicb2

Idioms

rap somebody on/over the knuckles | rap somebody’s knuckles

(informal) to criticize somebody for something
- The company was rapped over the knuckles for broadcasting the interview.
- She was rapped over the knuckles by her boss for criticizing the company in the press.