/ 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 ) to be no longer valid because the period of time that it lasts has come to an end :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
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PHRASAL VERBS
- lapse into sth
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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.