1. n.1 a the front of the body from the waist to the knees of a sitting person (sat on her lap; caught it in his lap). b the clothing, esp. a skirt, covering the lap. c the front of a skirt held up to catch or contain something.
2 a hollow among hills.
3 a hanging flap on a garment, a saddle, etc.
Phrases and idioms:
in (or on) a person's lap as a person's responsibility. in the lap of the gods (of an event etc.) open to chance; beyond human control. in the lap of luxury in extremely luxurious surroundings. lap-dog a small pet dog. lap robe US a travelling-rug.
Derivatives:
lapful n. (pl. -fuls).
Etymology: OE l{aelig}ppa fold, flap 2. n. & v.
--n.
1. a one circuit of a racetrack etc. b a section of a journey etc. (finally we were on the last lap).
2 a an amount of overlapping. b an overlapping or projecting part.
3 a a layer or sheet (of cotton etc. being made) wound on a roller. b a single turn of rope, silk, thread, etc., round a drum or reel.
4 a rotating disk for polishing a gem or metal.
--v. (lapped, lapping)
1. tr. lead or overtake (a competitor in a race) by one or more laps.
2 tr. (often foll. by about, round) coil, fold, or wrap (a garment etc.) round esp. a person.
3 tr. (usu. foll. by in) enfold or swathe (a person) in wraps etc.
4 tr. (as lapped adj.) (usu. foll. by in) protectively encircled; enfolded caressingly.
5 tr. surround (a person) with an influence etc.
6 intr. (usu. foll. by over) project; overlap.
7 tr. cause to overlap.
8 tr. polish (a gem etc.) with a lap.
Phrases and idioms:
half-lap lap joint. lap joint the joining of rails, shafts, etc., by halving the thickness of each at the joint and fitting them together. lap of honour a ceremonial circuit of a football pitch, a track, etc., by a winner or winners. lap-strake n. a clinker-built boat.
--adj. clinker-built. lap-weld v.tr. weld with overlapping edges.
--n. such a weld.
Etymology: ME, prob. f. LAP(1) 3. v. & n.
--v. (lapped, lapping)
1. tr. a (also absol.) (usu. of an animal) drink (liquid) with the tongue. b (usu. foll. by up, down) consume (liquid) greedily. c (usu. foll. by up) consume (gossip, praise, etc.) greedily.
2 a tr. (of water) move or beat upon (a shore) with a rippling sound as of lapping. b intr. (of waves etc.) move in ripples; make a lapping sound.
--n.
1. a the process or an act of lapping. b the amount of liquid taken up.
2 the sound of wavelets on a beach.
3 liquid food for dogs.
4 sl. a a weak beverage. b any liquor.
Etymology: OE lapian f. Gmc