/ tæp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( -pp- )
1.
to hit sb/sth quickly and lightly :
[ v ]
Someone tapped at the door.
He was busy tapping away at his computer.
[ vn ]
Ralph tapped me on the shoulder.
2.
if you tap your fingers, feet, etc. or they tap , you hit them gently against a table, the floor, etc., for example to the rhythm of music :
[ vn ]
He kept tapping his fingers on the table.
[ v ]
The music set everyone's feet tapping.
3.
tap (into) sth to make use of a source of energy, knowledge, etc. that already exists :
[ vn ]
We need to tap the expertise of the people we already have.
[ v ]
The movie seems to tap into a general sentimentality about animals.
4.
[ vn ] ( especially BrE ) to fit a device to a telephone so that sb's calls can be listened to secretly :
He was convinced his phone was being tapped.
—see also wiretapping
5.
[ vn ] to cut into a tree in order to get liquid from it
6.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] ( NAmE ) to choose sb to do a particular job :
Richards has been tapped to replace the retiring chairperson.
7.
[ vn ] ( phonetics ) to produce a tap (6)
SYN flap
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- tap sb for sth
- tap sth in / out
- tap sth out
■ noun
1.
( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually fau·cet ) [ C ] a device for controlling the flow of water from a pipe into a bath/ bathtub or sink :
bath taps
the hot / cold tap (= the tap that hot / cold water comes out of)
Turn the tap on / off .
Don't leave the tap running.
the sound of a dripping tap
—see also tap water
2.
[ C ] a device for controlling the flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container :
a gas tap
beer taps
3.
[ C ] a light hit with your hand or fingers :
a tap at / on the door
He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned round.
4.
[ C ] an act of fitting a device to a telephone so that sb's telephone calls can be listened to secretly :
a phone tap
5.
[ U ] = tap-dancing
6.
[ C ] ( phonetics ) a speech sound which is produced by striking the tongue quickly and lightly against the part of the mouth behind the upper front teeth. The /t/ in later in American English and the /r/ in very in some British accents are examples of taps.
SYN flap
•
IDIOMS
- on tap
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 2 and noun sense 4 verb senses 3 to 5 Old English tæppa peg for the vent-hole of a cask , tæppian provide (a cask) with a stopper , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch tap and German Zapfen (nouns).
verb senses 1 to 2 and noun sense 3 noun sense 5 and verb sense 6 Middle English : from Old French taper , or of imitative origin; compare with the verb clap and rap .