tap
Other forms: tapped; tapping; taps
To tap is to lightly hit something, the way you tap your friend on the shoulder to get her attention or tap your foot against the floor when you're listening to music.
Your fingers tap the keyboard when you write an essay, and if you take tap dancing lessons, you'll spend time tapping your toes in tap shoes. Another kind of tap is a spigot that liquid or gas flows from, or the secret listening device a spy might use. As a verb, it can also mean "make use of," the way you tap into your sister's jar of change when you need an extra dollar or two.
Definitions of tap
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strike lightly
-
make light, repeated taps on a surface
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a gentle blow
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a light touch or stroke
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the sound made by a gentle blow
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types:
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pitter-patter
a series of rapid tapping sounds
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type of:
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sound
the sudden occurrence of an audible event
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pitter-patter
-
walk with a tapping sound
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type of:
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walk
use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
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walk
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dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes
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synonyms:
tapdance
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type of:
-
dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe
move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance
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dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe
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a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing)
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type of:
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plate
a sheet of metal or wood or glass or plastic
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plate
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pierce in order to draw a liquid from“tap a maple tree for its syrup”
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type of:
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pierce
make a hole into
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pierce
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furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it
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draw (liquor) from a tap
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draw from; make good use of
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synonyms:
exploit
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types:
- show 8 types...
- hide 8 types...
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maximise, maximize
make the most of
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harness
exploit the power of
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mine
get from the earth by excavation
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quarry
extract (something such as stones) from or as if from a quarry
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overexploit
exploit excessively
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commercialise, commercialize
exploit for maximal profit, usually by sacrificing quality
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milk
exploit as much as possible
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strip mine, surface mine, surface-mine
extract (ore) from a strip-mine
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draw from or dip into to get something
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make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently
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types:
- show 4 types...
- hide 4 types...
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quest
seek alms, as for religious purposes
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canvas, canvass
solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign
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buttonhole, lobby
detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors
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circularise, circularize
canvass by using a questionnaire
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a faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask
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synonyms:
hydrant, water faucet, water tap
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type of:
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faucet, spigot
a regulator for controlling the flow of a liquid from a reservoir
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plumbing fixture
a fixture for the distribution and use of water in a building
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faucet, spigot
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a plug for a bunghole in a cask
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tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information
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the act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information
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synonyms:
wiretap
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type of:
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investigating, investigation
the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
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investigating, investigation
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a tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads
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type of:
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tool
an implement used in the practice of a vocation
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tool
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cut a female screw thread with a tap
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type of:
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cut
separate with or as if with an instrument
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cut
Pronunciation
US
/tæp/
UK
/tæp/
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