LAP

n. & v. --n. 1 a one circuit of a racetrack etc. b a section of a journey etc. (finally we were on the last lap). 2 a an amount of overlapping. b an overlapping or projecting part. 3 a a layer or sheet (of cotton etc. being made) wound on a roller. b a single turn of rope, silk, thread, etc., round a drum or reel. 4 a rotating disk for polishing a gem or metal. --v. (lapped, lapping) 1 tr. lead or overtake (a competitor in a race) by one or more laps. 2 tr. (often foll. by about, round) coil, fold, or wrap (a garment etc.) round esp. a person. 3 tr. (usu. foll. by in) enfold or swathe (a person) in wraps etc. 4 tr. (as lapped adj.) (usu. foll. by in) protectively encircled; enfolded caressingly. 5 tr. surround (a person) with an influence etc. 6 intr. (usu. foll. by over) project; overlap. 7 tr. cause to overlap. 8 tr. polish (a gem etc.) with a lap. øhalf-lap = lap joint. lap joint the joining of rails, shafts, etc., by halving the thickness of each at the joint and fitting them together. lap of honour a ceremonial circuit of a football pitch, a track, etc., by a winner or winners. lap-strake n. a clinker-built boat. --adj. clinker-built. lap-weld v.tr. weld with overlapping edges. --n. such a weld. [ME, prob. f. LAP(1)]