tap
/tæp/ verb C2- To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. · Emma tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
- Also in the form tap on the shoulder: to arrest (someone).
- To have sexual intercourse with (someone). · I would tap that hot girl over there.· I’d tap that.
- To shoot (someone or something) with a firearm.
- To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. · You can pay by tapping your card.· He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table.
- To lightly touch a touchscreen, usually an icon or button, to activate a function. · Next, tap on the browser to get on the internet.
- To lightly and repeatedly touch (a person or one or more body parts) as part of various forms of psychological treatment. · The therapist tapped him when he was overcome by anxiety.
- 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.
Plural tap · He/she/it taps · Past tapped · Past participle tapped · -ing form tapping
Verb forms
- Base form
- tap
- He/she/it
- taps
- Past
- tapped
- Past participle
- tapped
- -ing form
- tapping
Phrasal verbs and expressions
- tap in To kick a simple shot, without opposition, from close ran...
- tap into To establish a connection with (something), especially in...
- tap off To remove liquid or other particles from a furnace, keg, ...
- tap on To strike an object or a person lightly and swiftly.
- tap out To produce (a message, rhythm, or other thing) by tapping.
From the library
The blunt accusation, the brutal tap upon the shoulder—what can one make of such a denouement?
It came slowly along the passage, and there was a feeble tap at the door.
Neither of them had time to speak, however, before there was a tap at the door, and the spokesman of the street Arabs, young Wiggins, introduced his insignificant and unsavoury person.
He tiptoed along the hall and stood for several minutes outside the door of the east gable before he summoned courage to tap on it with his fingers and then open the door to peep in.
Other matches
- tap A conical peg or pin used to close and open the... A2
- tap To furnish B2
- tap A light blow or strike with a clear sound C2
- tap A malarial fever. C2
- tap in To kick a simple shot, without opposition, from...
- tap into To establish a connection with
- tap off To remove liquid or other particles from a furn...
- tap on To strike an object or a person lightly and swi...
Learn tap in real texts
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