rap

USRAP/ɹæp/

Pluralraps (some meanings)

20 meanings of rap

1
noununcountable
A kind of music where words are spoken in rhythm over a strong beat.
Like a poem said out loud over the beat of a drum.
She listens to rap on the way to school.
The radio station plays rap all afternoon.
Similarhip-hop
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2
verbtransitive or intransitive
To say words in rhythm over a beat, the way rap singers do.
Like singing, but you speak the words to a beat instead.
He can rap really fast.
They rapped together at the talent show.
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3
nouncountable or uncountable
A song or verse performed in the rap style.
He wrote a rap for the school show.
Her rap got everyone cheering.
Similarsong, verse
4
nouncountable
A quick, hard hit with something solid.
Like a quick, hard knock on a table.
She gave the door a sharp rap.
He felt a rap on his shoulder.
Similarknock, tap, bang, thump
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5
verbintransitive
To knock sharply on something with your knuckles.
Like tapping hard on a door with your knuckles.
Please rap on the door before coming in.
She rapped loudly at the gate.
Similarknock, tap, bang, pound
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6
nounslangcountable or uncountablewith the
Blame or punishment for something done wrong.
Like being the one who gets in trouble when the whole group was noisy.
He took the rap for his brother's mistake.
Why should I get the rap for something I didn't do?
Similarblame
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7
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A friendly, relaxed talk with someone.
We had a nice rap over coffee.
She stopped by for a quick rap with her neighbor.
Similarchat, talk, conversation
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8
verbcolloquialintransitive
To talk in a relaxed, friendly way with someone.
We like to rap about music after class.
They rapped for hours about nothing in particular.
Similarchat, talk, converse, gab
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9
nounslangcountable
A criminal charge against someone, even if they are not found guilty.
He was facing a serious rap for theft.
She beat the rap and walked free.
Similarcharge, accusation
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10
verbtransitive
To say something quickly and sharply.
The captain rapped out a quick order.
Rap out the answer as fast as you can.
Similarbark, snap
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11
verbdatedtransitive
To hit something with a quick, sharp blow.
Like tapping hard on a door with your hand.
Rap the table twice if you need my help.
With one great peal they rap the door.
1717, Matthew Prior, The DoveHere, rap means knock on sharply, hitting the door with quick blows.
Similarknock, strike, tap, hit
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12
verbintransitive
To go down a steep rock face by sliding on a rope.
Like sliding down a rope from a high place.
Climbers rap down the wall once they reach the very top.
She rapped slowly down the smooth granite face.
Similarrappel, abseil
13
nouncolloquialAustraliacountable or uncountable
Good words people say about someone or something, praising them.
Like a thumbs-up that people pass along to others.
The new café got a good rap from everyone in town.
Her teacher gave her a strong rap when she applied for the job.
Similarendorsement, recommendation, review
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14
nouncolloquialAustraliacountable or uncountable
An opinion or judgment about how good or bad someone or something is.
Like a score someone gives after looking closely.
The movie got a mixed rap from the people who saw it early.
Give me your honest rap on this new plan before we decide.
Similarreview, assessment, verdict, evaluation, appraisal
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15
nouncountable
The smallest bit, a tiny amount that hardly counts.
Like a single crumb: almost nothing at all.
He doesn't care a rap what they think of him.
Her warnings were not worth a rap to the stubborn crew.
Similarfig, hoot, whit, jot
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16
verbtransitive
To grab something and carry it away quickly.
A hawk dropped from the sky to rap a mouse from the tall grass.
Pirates rapped the captain's young son and kept him on their ship until his family paid.
Similarseize, snatch, grab
17
verbtransitive
To fill someone with such joy that they forget everything else.
Like being so amazed you forget where you are.
The music seemed to rap the whole crowd into pure joy.
The beauty of the valley rapped her completely.
Similartransport, enrapture, ravish, entrance
18
nounhistoricalcountable
An old Irish coin worth very little, used long ago.
Like a cheap token that is barely worth anything.
He paid for the bread with a single worn rap.
Many counterfeits passed about under the name of raps.
1724, Jonathan Swift, “Drapier's Letters”Here, raps means cheap coins of very little value.
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19
nouncountable
A measured length of yarn wound off a reel.
Like a measuring cup that holds the same amount every time.
A single rap of worsted came to eighty yards on the mill's reel.
The account books recorded thousands of raps spun over the winter.
Similarskein, hank
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20
verbtransitive
To tap a mold gently so the pattern inside comes loose.
Like wiggling a key gently so it slides out of a tight lock.
The foundry worker rapped the pattern to loosen it from the sand.
You rap the mold lightly before lifting the pattern out.
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Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3–4, 6–7, 13–14

From Middle English rap, meaning a blow or strike. It came from a North Germanic origin.

Meanings 2, 5, 8, 10–11, 20

From Middle English rappen, meaning to strike or beat. It came from a North Germanic origin.

Meanings 15, 18

Perhaps a shortened form of the word rapparee.

Meaning 9

From RAP, meaning a record of arrest and prosecution.