(~s, ~ping, ~ped)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas from a pipe or container, for example on a sink. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use faucet )
She turned on the ~s.
...a cold-water ~...
N-COUNT
2.
If you ~ something, you hit it with a quick light blow or a series of quick light blows.
He ~ped the table to still the shouts of protest...
Grace ~ped on the bedroom door and went in...
VERB: V n, V adv/prep
•
Tap is also a noun.
A ~ on the door interrupted him and Sally Pierce came in.
N-COUNT: usu N on/at n
3.
If you ~ your fingers or feet, you make a regular pattern of sound by hitting a surface lightly and repeatedly with them, especially while you are listening to music.
The song’s so catchy it makes you bounce round the living room or ~ your feet.
VERB: V n
4.
If you ~ a resource or situation, you make use of it by getting from it something that you need or want.
He owes his election to having ~ped deep public disillusion with professional politicians...
The company is ~ping shareholders for ?15.8 million...
The Campbell Soup Company says it will try to ~ into Japan’s rice market.
VERB: V n, V n for n, V into n
5.
If someone ~s your telephone, they attach a special device to the line so that they can secretly listen to your conversations.
The government passed laws allowing the police to ~ telephones...
= bug
VERB: V n
see also phone-~ping , wire~
•
Tap is also a noun.
He assured MPs that ministers and MPs were not subjected to phone ~s.
N-COUNT: oft n N
6.
If drinks are on ~, they come from a ~ rather than from a bottle.
Filtered water is always on ~, making it very convenient to use.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
7.
If something is on ~, you can have as much of it as you want whenever you want. (INFORMAL)
The advantage of group holidays is company on ~ but time alone if you want it.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR