lap 1
/lap/ , n.
1. the front part of the human body from the waist to the knees when in a sitting position.
2. the part of the clothing that lies on the front portion of the body from the waist to the knees when one sits.
3. a place, environment, or situation of rest or nurture: the lap of luxury.
4. area of responsibility, care, charge, or control: They dropped the problem right in his lap.
5. a hollow place, as a hollow among hills.
6. the front part of a skirt, esp. as held up to contain something.
7. a part of a garment that extends over another: the lap of a coat.
8. a loose border or fold.
[ bef. 900; ME lappe, OE laeppa; c. D lap; akin to G lappen, ON leppr rag, patch ]
lap 2
/lap/ , v. , lapped, lapping , n.
v.t.
1. to fold over or around something; wrap or wind around something: to lap a bandage around one's finger.
2. to enwrap in something; wrap up; clothe.
3. to envelop or enfold: lapped in luxury.
4. to lay (something) partly over something underneath; lay (things) together, one partly over another; overlap.
5. to lie partly over (something underneath).
6. to get a lap or more ahead of (a competitor) in racing, as on an oval track.
7. to cut or polish with a lap.
8. to join, as by scarfing, to form a single piece with the same dimensions throughout.
9. to change (cotton, wool, etc.) into a compressed layer or sheet.
v.i.
10. to fold or wind around something.
11. to lie partly over or alongside of something else.
12. to lie upon and extend beyond a thing; overlap.
13. to extend beyond a limit.
n.
14. the act of lapping.
15. the amount of material required to go around a thing once.
16. a complete circuit of a course in racing or in walking for exercise: to run a lap.
17. an overlapping part.
18. the extent or amount of overlapping.
19. a rotating wheel or disk holding an abrasive or polishing powder on its surface, used for gems, cutlery, etc.
20. a compressed layer or sheet of cotton, wool, or other fibrous material usually wound on an iron rod or rolled into a cylindrical form for further processing during carding.
[ 1250-1300; ME lappen to fold, wrap; c. D lappen to patch, mend; akin to LAP 1 ]
lap 3
/lap/ , v. , lapped, lapping , n.
v.t.
1. (of water) to wash against or beat upon (something) with a light, slapping or splashing sound: Waves lapped the shoreline.
2. to take in (liquid) with the tongue; lick in: to lap water from a bowl.
v.i.
3. to wash or move in small waves with a light, slapping or splashing sound: The water lapped gently against the mooring.
4. to take up liquid with the tongue; lick up a liquid.
5. lap up ,
a. Informal. to receive enthusiastically: The audience lapped up his monologue.
b. to take in (all of a liquid) with the tongue; drink up: The cat lapped up her milk and looked for more.
n.
6. the act of lapping liquid.
7. the lapping of water against something.
8. the sound of this: the quiet lap of the sea on the rocks.
9. something lapped up, as liquid food for dogs.
[ bef. 1000; ME lappen, unexplained var. of lapen, OE lapian; c. MLG lapen, OHG laffan; akin to L lambere, Gk láptein to lick, lap ]
lap 4
/lap/ , v. Archaic.
pt. of leap .