v. & n.
v. (tapped, tapping) 1 intr. (foll. by at, on) strike a gentle but audible blow. 2 tr. strike lightly (tapped me on the shoulder). 3 tr. (foll. by against etc.) cause (a thing) to strike lightly (tapped a stick against the window). 4 intr. = TAP-DANCE v. (can you tap?).
n. 1 a a light blow; a rap. b the sound of this (heard a tap at the door). 2 a = TAP-DANCE n. (goes to tap classes). b a piece of metal attached to the toe and heel of a tap-dancer's shoe to make the tapping sound. 3 (in pl., usu. treated as sing.) US a a bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters. b a similar signal at a military funeral. tapper n.
[ ME tappe (imit.), perh. through F taper ]