~ 1
■ noun
1》 the fluid, chiefly water with dissolved sugars and mineral salts, circulating in the vascular system of a plant.
2》 vigour or energy.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped ) gradually weaken (a person's strength or power).
↘( ~ someone of ) drain someone of (strength or power).
Derivatives
~less adjective
Origin
OE sæp , prob. of Gmc origin; the verb is derived orig. from the verb ~ 2 , in the sense 'undermine'.
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~ 2
■ noun historical a tunnel or trench to conceal an assailant's approach to a fortified place.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
1》 historical dig a ~.
2》 archaic make insecure by removing the foundations.
3》 [often as noun ~ping ] Geography undercut by water or glacial action.
Origin
C16: from Fr. ~er , from Ital. zappare , from zappa 'spade, spadework', prob. from Arab. sarab 'underground passage', or sabora 'probe a wound, explore'.
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~ 3
■ noun informal, chiefly N. Amer. a foolish person.
Origin
C19: abbrev. of dialect ~skull 'person with a head like ~wood'.
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~ 4 US
informal, dated
■ noun a bludgeon or club.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped ) hit with a ~.
Origin
C19: abbrev. of ~ling .