/ ræp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a quick sharp hit or knock :
There was a sharp rap on the door.
2.
[ U ] a type of modern music with a fast strong rhythm and words which are spoken fast, not sung :
a rap song / artist
3.
[ C ] a rap song
4.
[ C ] ( NAmE , informal ) a criminal conviction (= the fact of being found guilty of a crime) :
a police rap sheet (= a record of the crimes sb has committed)
5.
[ sing. ] ( NAmE , informal ) an unfair judgement on sth or sb :
He denounced the criticisms as 'just one bum rap after another.'
Wolves get a bad rap , says a woman who owns three.
•
IDIOMS
- (give sb / get) a rap on / over / across the knuckles
- take the rap (for sb/sth)
—more at beat verb
■ verb ( -pp- )
1.
to hit a hard object or surface several times quickly, making a noise :
[ v ]
She rapped angrily on the door.
[ vn ]
He rapped the table with his pen.
2.
rap sth (out) to say sth suddenly and quickly in a loud, angry way :
[ vn ]
He walked through the store, rapping out orders to his staff.
[also v speech ]
3.
[ vn ] rap sb/sth (for sth / for doing sth) (used mainly in newspapers) to criticize sb severely, usually publicly :
Some of the teachers were rapped for poor performance.
4.
[ v , vn ] ( music ) to say the words of a rap
—see also rapper
•
IDIOMS
- rap sb on / over the knuckles | rap sb's knuckles
For more information see the Cultural Guide
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle 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 .