n. & v.
n. 1 a smart slight blow. 2 a knock, a sharp tapping sound. 3 sl. blame, censure, or punishment. 4 sl. a conversation. 5 a a rhyming monologue recited rhythmically to prerecorded music. b (in full rap music) a style of rock music with a pronounced beat and words recited rather than sung.
v. (rapped, rapping) 1 tr. strike smartly. 2 intr. knock; make a sharp tapping sound (rapped on the table). 3 tr. criticize adversely. 4 intr. sl. talk. beat the rap US escape punishment. rap on (or over) the knuckles a reprimand or reproof. rap out 1 utter (an oath, order, pun, etc.) abruptly or on the spur of the moment. 2 Spiritualism express (a message or word) by raps. take the rap suffer the consequences. rapper n.
[ ME, prob. imit. ]