tap

noun taps

1. A conical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container.

   Similar: spigot, spile

2. broadly An object with a tapering conical form like a tap (etymology 1, noun sense 1); specifically, ellipsis of taproot (“long, tapering root of a plant”).
3. broadly A hollow device used to control the flow of a fluid, such as an alcoholic beverage from a cask, or a gas or liquid in a pipe. We don’t have bottled water; you’ll have to get it from the tap.

   Similar: cock, faucet, handle, spigot, spout, stopcock

4. broadly, informal A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity; paracentesis. abdominal tap    pleural tap    spinal tap

   Similar: cock, faucet, handle, spigot, spout, stopcock

5. broadly Liquor drawn through a tap (etymology 1, noun sense 2.2); hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; also (figurative, informal), a certain kind or quality of any thing. a liquor of the same tap
6. broadly A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications.
7. broadly A secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; also, a recording of such a communication. telephone tap
8. broadly A situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time, usually at a fixed price, with volumes sold on a particular day dependent on market conditions. bond tap    tap issue
9. broadly A cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole, with cutting edges around the lower end and an upper end to which a handle is fitted to turn the tool. We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve’s thread.
10. UK, abbreviation, broadly, ellipsis Ellipsis of taphouse or taproom (“place where alcoholic beverages are served on tap”). [H]ere has been nothing but canting and praying ſince the fellovv entered the place.—Rabbit him! the tap vvill be ruined—vve han't ſold a caſk of beer, nor a dozen of vvine, ſince he paid his garniſh—the gentlemen get drunk vvith nothing but your damned religion.— […]

    Similar: bar, barroom

11. UK, broadly A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it; a tapping. The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill-advised taps along its length.

Similar: clap, knock, pat, ping, plip, plonk, plop, rap, slam, slap, smack, spank, tap · Opposite: humming

verb taps · tapping · tapped · tap

1. broadly, transitive To furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.2) so that liquid can be drawn. There's a very pretty brew in tap at The Pure Drop—though, to be sure, not so good as at Rolliver's.
2. transitive To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source). He tapped the ten-year-old whiskey from its barrel.
3. informal, transitive To drain off fluid from (a person or a body cavity) by paracentesis. It is a hard thing to empty the vvater contained in the breaſt, becauſe the vvaies are not open by vvhich it ſhould be brought forth. Therefore Hippocrates doth adviſe to open the ſide, vvhich becauſe vve never ſee practiſed, and never read in any Author that it vvas done vvith good ſucceſs, vve can
4. figuratively, transitive To break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something; to exploit, to penetrate; tap into. Businesses are trying to tap the youth market.
5. figuratively, transitive To deplete (something); to tap out. At the range of a couple of hundred yards we emptied our magazines, firing bullet after bullet into the beasts, but with no more effect than if we were pelting them with pellets of paper. Their slow reptilian natures cared nothing for wounds, and the springs of their lives, with no special brain cen
6. figuratively, informal, transitive To ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to cadge, to scrounge; also, to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free. I tried to tap a cigarette off him, but he wouldn’t give me one.

   Similar: beg, blag, bum, cadge, leech, mooch, mump, scrounge, scunge, sponge, tap, wheedle

7. figuratively, transitive To connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; also, to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication). They can’t tap the phone without a warrant.

   Similar: eavesdrop

8. figuratively, transitive To turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round.
9. figuratively, transitive To force (an opponent) to place all their poker chips in the pot (that is, to go all in) by wagering all of one's own chips. I think there's an expression in poker. I'll tap you, Mr. Maverick.
10. transitive To remove a taproot from (a plant).
11. transitive To cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); also, to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole, or to create an internally threaded hole in (something). Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.
12. transitive To cut an external screw thread into (a bolt or rod) to create a screw.
13. transitive To put (a screw or other object) in or through another thing.
14. intransitive To act as a tapster; to draw an alcoholic beverage from a container. Ile entertaine Bardolfe. He ſhall tap, he ſhall dravv.
15. intransitive, obsolete To spend money, etc., freely. A certain country gentleman began to tap upon the first information he received of sir Roger's death: when he sent me up word that, if I would get him chosen in the place of the deceased, he would present me with a barrel of the best October I had ever drank in my life.

verb taps · tapping · tapped · tap

1. transitive To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. Emma tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
2. slang, transitive Also in the form tap on the shoulder: to arrest (someone). We are certainly scented here, and I walk about like a barrel of beer at Christmas, under hourly apprehension of being tapped!
3. slang, transitive, vulgar To have sexual intercourse with (someone). I would tap that hot girl over there.

   Similar: hit, wap, Formal terms, bed, coit, coitize, dight, enjoy, feague, go in unto, go to bed with, have

4. slang, transitive To shoot (someone or something) with a firearm. Heard that, too, Rose said. A thirtyeight revolver. Only you tapped him with a rifle from a hundred yards out.
5. transitive To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. You can pay by tapping your card.

   Similar: hit, patter, pound, rap, strike, bang, baste, batter, beat, belabor, blow, clobber

6. transitive To lightly touch a touchscreen, usually an icon or button, to activate a function. Next, tap on the browser to get on the internet.

   Similar: hit, patter, pound, rap, strike, bang, baste, batter, beat, belabor, blow, clobber

7. transitive To lightly and repeatedly touch (a person or one or more body parts) as part of various forms of psychological treatment. The therapist tapped him when he was overcome by anxiety.

   Similar: hit, patter, pound, rap, strike, bang, baste, batter, beat, belabor, blow, clobber

8. transitive To force (an opponent) to submit, chiefly by indicating their intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out. Hard to believe Kimo [Leopoldo] used a triangle choke to tap [Kazushi] Sak[uraba], but 4 years can make a difference.
9. transitive To invoke a function on an electronic device such as a mobile phone by touching (a button, icon, or specific location on its touch screen). Tap the Save Image button to save the picture in your iPod touch or iPhone photo library (in the Saved Images album) or tap Cancel to cancel.
10. UK, US, dialectal, transitive To repair (an item of footwear) by putting on a new heel or sole, or a piece of material on to the heel or sole. to tap shoes
11. US, informal, transitive To choose or designate (someone) for a duty, an honour, membership of an organization, or a position. He was tapped by the president to act as a special counsel.
12. intransitive Often followed by at or on: to strike lightly with a clear sound; also, to make a sharp noise through this action. The tree was swaying in the breeze and tapping on the window pane.

    Similar: bang, hit, ping, rap

13. intransitive To walk by striking the ground lightly with a clear sound. Our England for ever! Ten thouſand French, my brave Lad! I am going to tap avvay directly.
14. intransitive Of a bell, a drum, etc.: to make a sharp noise, often as a signal.
15. intransitive To submit to an opponent, chiefly by indicating an intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out.
16. intransitive, obsolete Of a hare or rabbit: to strike the ground repeatedly with its feet during the rutting season. [A] Bore ſcreameth: a Hare & a Cony beateth or tappeth: a Fox barketh: […] when they ſeeke or hunt after their mates.

noun taps

1. countable, uncountable A light blow or strike with a clear sound; a gentle rap; a pat; also, the sound made by such a blow or strike. When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.
2. countable, informal, uncountable, in the negative The smallest amount of work; a stroke of work. For to the first floor his duties never took him, at this period, nor to the second, once he had made his bed, and swept clean his little room, which he did every morning the first thing, before coming down, on an empty stomach. Whereas Erskine never did a tap on the ground floor, but all his duties
3. countable, uncountable One of the metal pieces attached to the sole of a tap dancer's shoe at the toe and heel to cause a tapping sound.
4. countable, slang, uncountable A shot fired from a firearm.
5. countable, uncountable An act of touching a button, icon, or specific location on the touch screen of an electronic device such as a mobile phone to invoke a function.
6. countable, uncountable A single muscle contraction in vocal organs causing a consonant sound; also, the sound so made.

   Similar: flap

7. UK, US, countable, dialectal, uncountable A piece of leather or other material fastened upon the bottom of an item of footwear when repairing the heel or sole; also (England, dialectal) the sole of an item of footwear. She had a good figure, was twenty-one, five-feet-five, hair probably brown (dyed blond), brown cloth coat, rabbit-skin collar, cotton print dress, brown calf shoes (heel taps a little run over), scuff on the right toe.

   Similar: heeltap

8. abbreviation, ellipsis, uncountable Ellipsis of tap dance Now, until you get to wearing block shoes, the same sandals do for everything except tap, and the world doesn't come to an end if you just wear your tunic knickers and a shirt for tap; but when we could get the stuff there was all that changing into rompers, and we'd special satin sandals for ballet

Similar: clap, knock, pat, ping, plip, plonk, plop, rap, slam, slap, smack, spank, tap · Opposite: humming

noun

1. East, India, uncountable A malarial fever. According to the Yunani hakims dengue is a "tap safrow"—a fever due to excess of bile, and it is wonderful the amount of dark colored bile that passes away after a purgative, especially if that is not administered until the third day.

Similar: clap, knock, pat, ping, plip, plonk, plop, rap, slam, slap, smack, spank, tap · Opposite: humming

noun TAPs

1. abbreviation, countable, initialism, uncountable Initialism of talk aloud protocol
2. abbreviation, countable, initialism, uncountable Initialism of think aloud protocol
3. abbreviation, countable, initialism, uncountable Initialism of total audience package: an offering that includes ads broadcast during every part of the schedule.

proper noun

1. The station code of Tai Po Market in Hong Kong.
2. abbreviation, initialism Initialism of The Ada Project