tap

Meaning

Noun

1. A conical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container.
2. (broadly) An object with a tapering conical form like a tap (sense 1); specifically, ellipsis of taproot (“long, tapering root of a plant”).
3. (broadly) A hollow device used to control the flow of a fluid, such as an alcoholic beverage from a cask, or a gas or liquid in a pipe.
4. To click on something usually a device.
5. To click on something usually a device.
6. To click on something usually a device.
7. To click on something usually a device.
8. To click on something usually a device.
9. To click on something usually a device.
10. (British, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) To click on something usually a device.
11. (British) To click on something usually a device.

Verb

1. (transitive) To furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap (noun sense 2.2) so that liquid can be drawn.
2. (transitive) To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source).
3. (informal, transitive) To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source).
4. (figuratively, transitive) To break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something; to exploit, to penetrate; tap into.
5. (figuratively, transitive) To deplete (something); to tap out.
6. (figuratively, informal, transitive) To ask or beg for (something) to be given for free; to cadge, to scrounge; also, to ask or beg (someone) to give something for free.
7. (figuratively, transitive) To connect a listening and/or recording device to (a communication cable or device) in order to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications; also, to secretly listen in on and/or record (a telephone call or other communication).
8. (figuratively, transitive) To turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round.
9. (figuratively, transitive) To force (an opponent) to place all their poker chips in the pot (that is, to go all in) by wagering all of one's own chips.
10. (transitive) To remove a taproot from (a plant).
11. (transitive) To cut an internal screw thread in (a hole); also, to cut (an internal screw thread) in a hole, or to create an internally threaded hole in (something).
12. (transitive) To cut an external screw thread into (a bolt or rod) to create a screw.
13. (transitive) To put (a screw or other object) in or through another thing.
14. (intransitive) To act as a tapster; to draw an alcoholic beverage from a container.
15. (intransitive, obsolete) To spend money, etc., freely.

Verb

1. (transitive) To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard.
2. (slang, transitive) To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard.
3. (slang, transitive, vulgar) To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard.
4. (slang, transitive) To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard.
5. (transitive) To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly.
6. (transitive) To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly.
7. (transitive) To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly.
8. (transitive) To force (an opponent) to submit, chiefly by indicating their intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out.
9. (transitive) To invoke a function on an electronic device such as a mobile phone by touching (a button, icon, or specific location on its touch screen).
10. (British, US, dialectal, transitive) To repair (an item of footwear) by putting on a new heel or sole, or a piece of material on to the heel or sole.
11. (US, informal, transitive) To choose or designate (someone) for a duty, an honour, membership of an organization, or a position.
12. (intransitive) Often followed by at or on: to strike lightly with a clear sound; also, to make a sharp noise through this action.
13. (intransitive) To walk by striking the ground lightly with a clear sound.
14. (intransitive) Of a bell, a drum, etc.: to make a sharp noise, often as a signal.
15. (intransitive) To submit to an opponent, chiefly by indicating an intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out.
16. (intransitive, obsolete) Of a hare or rabbit: to strike the ground repeatedly with its feet during the rutting season.

Synonyms

faucet

rap

knock

pat

spigot

strike

wiretap

pound

💷

bug

🐛

broach

hit

cock

rap on

tapping

poke

bore

hydrant

stopcock

beat

solicit

sink

plug

water tap

flick

water faucet

dab

rattle

stroke

chuck

tip

drill

slap

beg

puncture

overhear

valve

clap

👏

tapdance

stopper

hammer

🔨

intercept

stamp

drum

🥁

eavesdrop

exploit

shock

⚡

seek

🔍

pink

branch

pipe

Translations

robinet

taper

Hahn

rubinetto

kraan

Wasserhahn

grifo

torneira

musluk

tap

aixeta

tikken

Zapfen

βρύση

Pronounced as (IPA)

/tæp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: tappe

Inherited from Old English: tæppa

Inherited from Middle English: tappen

Inherited from Old English: tæppian

Cognate with French: taper

Inherited from Middle English: tap

Cognate with French: tape

Cognate with German: tappen

Cognate with Icelandic: tappa

Cognate with Persian: -

Cognate with Urdu: تب

In summary

The noun is derived from Middle English tappe (“hollow device for controlling the flow of liquid from a hole, cock, faucet, spigot; hole through which the liquid flows; the liquid which thus flows”), from Old English tæppa, from Proto-West Germanic *tappō, from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“a plug, tap; peg; tapering stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tapa.
The verb is derived from Middle English tappen (“to obtain (liquid, chiefly liquor) from a tap; to obtain and sell (liquor)”), from Old English tæppian (“to provide (a container) with a stopper; to obtain (liquid) from a tap”), and then either:
* from Old English tæppa (see above) + -ian (suffix forming verbs); or
* from Proto-Germanic *tappōną, from *tappô (noun) (see above).
Verb sense 1.3.5 (“to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round”) alludes to the abilities or resources of the card or piece having been drawn on to the point of temporary exhaustion: see verb sense 1.3.2.