~ 1
■ noun
1》 a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled.
2》 an instrument for cutting a threaded hole in a material.
3》 a device connected to a telephone for listening secretly to conversation.
4》 (also ~ping ) Brit. an electrical connection made to some point between the end terminals of a transformer coil or other component.
5》 Brit. a ~room.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
1》 draw liquid through the ~ or spout of (a cask, barrel, etc.).
2》 draw sap from (a tree) by cutting into it.
3》 exploit or draw a supply from (a resource).
↘ informal obtain money or information from.
4》 connect a device to (a telephone) so that conversation can be listened to secretly.
5》 cut a thread in (something) to accept a screw.
Phrases
on ~
1》 ready to be poured from a ~.
↘ informal freely available whenever needed.
2》 N. Amer. informal on schedule to occur.
Derivatives
~pable adjective
Origin
OE tæppa 'stopper for a cask', tæppian 'provide (a cask) with a stopper', of Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
1》 strike or knock with a quick light blow or blows.
↘strike lightly and repeatedly against something else: she was ~ping her feet.
2》 N. Amer. informal designate or select for a task or honour.
■ noun
1》 a quick light blow or the sound of such a blow.
2》 ~ dancing.
↘a piece of metal attached to the toe and heel of a ~ dancer's shoe to make a ~ping sound.
3》 ( ~s ) [treated as sing. or plural ] US a bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters.
↘a similar call sounded at a military funeral.
↘ Brit. (in the Guide movement) a closing song sung at an evening camp fire or at the end of a meeting.
Derivatives
~per noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~er , or of imitative origin; cf. clap 1 and rap 1 .