Search results for 'tap':

tap¹ noun 1 a quick or light touch, knock or blow, or the sound made by this. 2 tap-dancing (see under tap dance) • She teaches ballet and tap. 3 a piece of metal attached to the sole and heel of a shoe for tap-dancing. verb (tapped, tapping) 1 tr & intr to strike or knock lightly. 2 to strike or knock lightly on something. 3 (also tap something out) to produce it by tapping • tap out a message. 4 (sometimes tap at or on something) to strike it with a light but audible blow.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French taper.

tap² noun 1 a device consisting of a valve, with a handle for opening and shutting it, attached to a pipe for controlling the flow of liquid or gas. 2 a peg or stopper, especially in a barrel. 3 a receiver for listening to and recording private conversations, attached secretly to a telephone wire. 4 an act of attaching such a receiver to a telephone wire. 5 the withdrawal of fluid from a place, especially (medicine) from a cavity in the body • spinal tap. 6 a screw for cutting an internal thread. verb (tapped, tapping) 1 to get liquid from (a barrel or a cavity in the body, etc) by piercing it or opening it with, or as if with, a tap. 2 to let out (liquid) from a vessel by opening, or as if by opening, a tap. 3 to get sap from (a tree) by cutting into it. 4 to attach a receiver secretly to (a telephone wire) so as to be able to hear private conversations. 5 to start using (a source, supply, etc). 6 (usually tap someone for something) colloq to ask or obtain (money) from them. on tap 1 said of beer: stored in casks from which it is served. 2 ready and available for immediate use.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon tæppa.