lap

LAP/læp/

Plurallaps

Verblaps, lapping, lapped

26 meanings of lap

Practice

1
race circuitnouncountable
One full trip around a race track.
Like going one whole time around a track and ending where you began.
He took the lead on the final lap.
The runner slowed down badly on her last lap.
UsageSay run a lap or do a lap of the track.
Similarcircuit, loop, round
2
thighs (sitting)nouncountable
The top of your thighs when you sit down, or the clothes covering that area.
She held the bowl of popcorn on her lap during the movie.
The cat jumped onto my lap as soon as I sat down.
UsageA child can sit on your lap.
3
pool lengthnouncountable
One trip from one end of a swimming pool to the other.
Like walking from one wall of a room to the other.
She swims twenty laps before breakfast.
He finished the last lap and climbed out of the pool.
UsageSay swim laps. Some swimmers count there and back as one lap.
Similarlength
Note
4
lick upverbtransitive or intransitive
To drink by scooping up liquid with quick movements of the tongue.
Like using your tongue as a tiny spoon to drink.
The dog began to lap water from the bowl.
Kittens lap milk when they are very young.
UsageAnimals lap water with the tongue. To lap up praise is to enjoy it.
Similarlick, slurp, drink
Note
5
wash against shoreverbintransitive
To wash gently against something with a soft splashing sound.
Like the soft sound water makes when it touches the edge of a pool.
Small waves lap against the side of the boat.
The water lapped softly at her bare feet.
UsageSay waves lap against the shore.
Similarwash, splash, slap, ripple
Note
6
pass a racerverbtransitive
To pass another racer by going one whole extra time around the track.
Like running so fast that you catch up to a slower runner from behind.
The leader managed to lap two slower cars.
She will lap him before the race is over.
UsageOften said as be lapped: she was lapped by the leader.
Note
7
nurturing placenounfigurativelycountable
A safe, caring place where someone or something is raised and looked after.
Like a warm nest where young birds are kept safe.
She was raised in the gentle lap of a loving village.
She grew up in the lap of nature, playing in the woods every day.
UsageIn the lap of luxury means living very richly and comfortably.
Similarbosom, cradle, nest
8
nouncountable or uncountable
The part where one thing lies over another, or how much it overlaps.
The two boards need more lap to hold together well.
There wasn't enough lap between the tiles, so water leaked through.
Similaroverlap
Note

Less common meanings

9
single licknouncountable or uncountable
The act of drinking liquid by scooping it up with the tongue.
The cat drank its milk one slow lap at a time.
The puppy needed many laps to finish its water.
Similarslurp
10
verbtransitive
To lie partly over something, or to put one thing partly over another.
Like laying one playing card halfway over another.
The builder lapped one row of tiles over the next.
Lap the bandage over the previous turn as you wrap.
UsageLap one board over the next one.
Similaroverlap
Note
11
verbtransitive
To make metal, glass, or stones very smooth and exact by rubbing them against a tool covered with very fine grit.
Like sanding wood smooth, but using a very fine powder on metal or stone.
Workers lap the metal plates until they shine.
She lapped the gemstone to remove every scratch.
Note
12
nouncountable
The soft sound or motion of water touching something, or of an animal drinking with its tongue.
Like the soft splash a dog's tongue makes drinking from a bowl.
The lap of the lake against the dock was the only sound at dawn.
We fell asleep to the soft lap of waves on the boat.
UsageSay the lap of the waves.
Similarwash, splash
13
fold oververbtransitive
To fold something and lay it over or onto something else.
Like folding the top of a paper bag over to close it.
Lap the end of the rope back on itself to make a loop.
She lapped the towel over her arm and walked out.
Similarfold, tuck, turn
Oppositeunfold
14
polishing wheelnouncountable
A soft metal wheel that holds grinding powder for cutting or polishing glass, gems, or metal.
Like a spinning plate coated in polishing powder.
The jeweler pressed the gem against a spinning lap.
He charged the lap with fine powder before polishing the blade.
15
verbtransitive
To wrap or wind something around something else.
Like winding a bandage round and round an arm.
Carpenters lap the joints with sealing tape.
The electrician lapped the bare wire with black tape.
UsageLap tape around a pipe: wind it round.
Similarwrap, wind, swathe, enfold
Oppositeunwrap, unwind
Note
16
verbrare
To rest something, like your head, in someone's lap or on something soft.
to lap his head on lady's breast
a. 1839, Winthrop Mackworth Praed, GogHere, lap means to rest or lay one's head on someone.
17
nouncolloquial
Short for laparoscopy: an exam or operation on the belly done with a tiny camera through a small cut.
18
adjectivecolloquial
Short for laparoscopic: describing surgery done through tiny cuts with a small camera.
19
nouncolloquial
Short for laparotomy: surgery that opens the belly with a large cut.
20
nounarchaic
The loose, hanging part of a coat or other piece of clothing.
21
nounobsolete
The edge, border, or hem of a piece of cloth.
22
noun
In games, the extra points won beyond what is needed to win, then added to the next game.
23
nounarchaic
A woman's private parts.
24
noun
How far a steam engine valve moves before it begins to open.
25
noun
A flat layer of cotton ready to be combed by a machine.
26
nounobsolete
Beer, wine, or other drinks with alcohol.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of lap apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2, 7

From an Old English word meaning the skirt or flap of a piece of clothing.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

Lap derives from Old English læppa, meaning the skirt or flap of a garment. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 3, 6, 8, 10–15

From a Middle English word meaning "to fold or wrap." It is a doublet of "wrap." The meaning of a turn around a track comes from the idea of overlapping.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The source is Middle English lappen, meaning to fold or wrap. en.wiktionary.org
Lap is a doublet of wrap. en.wiktionary.org
The track sense developed from overlapping. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 4–5, 9

From an Old English word meaning "to lick," imitating the sound of lapping.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The verb lap comes from Old English lapian. en.wiktionary.org
Old English lapian meant "to lick." en.wiktionary.org
The word has an imitative origin representing lapping. en.wiktionary.org