LAPSE


Meaning of LAPSE in English

/ læps; NAmE / noun , verb

■ noun

1.

a small mistake, especially one that is caused by forgetting sth or by being careless :

a lapse of concentration / memory

A momentary lapse in the final set cost her the match.

2.

a period of time between two things that happen

SYN interval :

After a lapse of six months we met up again.

3.

an example or period of bad behaviour from sb who normally behaves well

■ verb [ v ]

1.

( of a contract, an agreement, etc. ) to be no longer valid because the period of time that it lasts has come to an end :

She had allowed her membership to lapse.

2.

to gradually become weaker or come to an end

SYN expire :

His concentration lapsed after a few minutes.

3.

lapse (from sth) to stop believing in or practising your religion :

He lapsed from Judaism when he was a student.

►  lapsed adjective [ only before noun ]:

a lapsed subscription

lapsed faith

a lapsed Catholic

PHRASAL VERBS

- lapse into sth

••

WORD ORIGIN

late Middle English : from Latin lapsus , from labi to glide, slip, or fall; the verb reinforced by Latin lapsare to slip or stumble.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.