/ læp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ C ]
1.
[ usually sing. ] the top part of your legs that forms a flat surface when you are sitting down :
There's only one seat so you'll have to sit on my lap .
She sat with her hands in her lap .
2.
one journey from the beginning to the end of a track used for running, etc. :
the fastest lap on record
She has completed six laps.
He was overtaken on the final lap.
to do a lap of honour (= go around the track again to celebrate winning)
( NAmE )
to do a victory lap
3.
a section of a journey, or of a piece of work, etc. :
They're off on the first lap of their round-the-world tour.
We've nearly finished. We're on the last lap .
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IDIOMS
- drop / dump sth in sb's lap
- sth drops / falls into sb's lap
- in the lap of the gods
- in the lap of luxury
■ verb ( -pp- )
1.
[ v ] ( of water ) to touch sth gently and regularly, often making a soft sound :
The waves lapped around our feet.
the sound of water lapping against the boat
2.
[ vn ] ( of animals ) to drink sth with quick movements of the tongue
3.
[ vn ] ( in a race ) to pass another runner on a track who is one or more laps behind you
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PHRASAL VERBS
- lap sth up
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WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 1 Old English læppa , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lap , German Lappen piece of cloth. The word originally denoted a fold or flap of a garment (compare with lapel ), later specifically one that could be used as a pocket or pouch, or the front of a skirt when held up to carry something ( Middle English ), hence the area between the waist and knees as a place where a child could be nursed or an object held.
noun senses 2 to 3 and verb sense 3 Middle English (as a verb in the sense coil, fold, or wrap ): from the noun lap sense 1. The current senses date from the mid 19th cent.
verb senses 1 to 2 Old English lapian , of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German and Middle Dutch lapen .