# rap

Pronunciation: US say "RAP" /ɹæp/; UK

## Noun

1. A genre of popular music in which rhymed lyrics are spoken rhythmically over a beat.
   - Simple: A kind of music where words are spoken in rhythm over a strong beat.
   - _He grew up listening to rap and later started writing his own verses._
   - _Rap dominated the charts throughout the decade._
3. A song, verse, or single performance delivered in the style of rap music.
   - Simple: A song or verse performed in the rap style.
   - _He performed a rap he had written about his hometown._
   - _Each contestant prepared a short rap for the final round._
4. A sharp blow delivered with something hard.
   - Simple: A quick, hard hit with something solid.
   - _A rap on the window made her jump._
   - _The teacher gave the desk a quick rap to get attention._
6. The blame for something, especially a wrongdoing one person is held responsible for. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Blame or punishment for something done wrong.
   - _She took the rap for the whole team's failure._
   - _He refused to take the rap for a decision he never made._
7. A casual, informal talk or chat. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A friendly, relaxed talk with someone.
   - _They sat on the porch and had a long rap about old times._
   - _He enjoyed a friendly rap with the regulars at the bar._
9. A criminal charge brought against someone, whether or not it results in a conviction. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A criminal charge against someone, even if they are not found guilty.
   - _He was facing a robbery rap that could put him away for years._
   - _The witness's testimony got her off the assault rap._
13. Favorable comment or praise about someone or something; a recommendation. *(colloquial, Australia)*
   - Simple: Good words people say about someone or something, praising them.
   - _The restaurant earned a glowing rap from local food lovers._
   - _A solid rap from a trusted friend helped him land the role._
14. An assessment or judgment of how good or worthwhile someone or something is. *(colloquial, Australia)*
   - Simple: An opinion or judgment about how good or bad someone or something is.
   - _His first album received a lukewarm rap from the critics._
   - _She wanted an unbiased rap on her business idea before investing._
15. The least bit; a tiny or negligible amount, used chiefly in negative expressions.
   - Simple: The smallest bit, a tiny amount that hardly counts.
   - _Their threats were not worth a rap to a man with nothing left to lose._
   - _She would not give a rap for the opinions of strangers._
18. A token that passed for a halfpenny in early eighteenth-century Ireland; any coin of trifling value.
   - Simple: An old Irish coin worth very little, used long ago.
   - _The merchant refused to take a rap for goods worth a shilling._
   - _She emptied her purse and found nothing but a handful of raps._
19. A standard measure of yarn wound off a reel: 80 yards for worsted and 120 yards for silk or cotton.
   - Simple: A measured length of yarn wound off a reel.
   - _The mill measured its output by the rap rather than by weight._
   - _Workers tied off each rap before lifting it from the reel._

## Verb

2. To perform lyrics rhythmically over a beat in the style of rap music.
   - Simple: To say words in rhythm over a beat, the way rap singers do.
   - _She learned to rap by copying her favorite artists._
   - _He rapped about growing up in his neighborhood._
5. To strike a surface sharply with the knuckles; to knock.
   - Simple: To knock sharply on something with your knuckles.
   - _Visitors should rap firmly on the front door._
   - _He rapped at the window to get her attention._
8. To talk casually with someone; to chat. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To talk in a relaxed, friendly way with someone.
   - _The two friends would rap late into the night._
   - _He rapped with the crew during the lunch break._
10. To utter something quickly and sharply.
   - Simple: To say something quickly and sharply.
   - _She rapped out a sharp reply before hanging up._
   - _The sergeant would rap out commands without pausing._
12. To descend a vertical surface by sliding down a fixed rope; to rappel.
   - Simple: To go down a steep rock face by sliding on a rope.
   - _The instructor showed us how to rap off the overhang safely._
   - _Two climbers rapped into the canyon at first light._
16. To seize something and carry it off.
   - Simple: To grab something and carry it away quickly.
   - _The raiders rapped the cattle and vanished into the hills._
   - _On that ridge the wind will rap a map out of your hands and carry it over the edge._
17. To carry someone out of themselves; to fill with rapture or ecstasy.
   - Simple: To fill someone with such joy that they forget everything else.
   - _The vision rapped the pilgrim into a state of holy wonder._
   - _Such glorious singing can rap a listener far beyond ordinary feeling._
20. To free a pattern within a mold by light blows, so that it can be drawn out cleanly.
   - Simple: To tap a mold gently so the pattern inside comes loose.
   - _The molder rapped the pattern carefully to ease it from the packed sand._
   - _Before drawing the casting form, the apprentice learned to rap it just enough._

## Verb

11. To strike someone or something with a quick, sharp blow; to knock sharply. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To hit something with a quick, sharp blow.
   - _The teacher rapped the desk to call the class to order._
   - _He would rap the door three times before entering the office._

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 3–4, 6–7, 13–14** — From Middle English rap or rappe, of North Germanic origin, related to Norwegian rapp ("a blow, strike, lash"), Swedish rapp ("a blow, lash"), and Danish rap ("a tap, smart, blow").
**Meanings 2, 5, 8, 10–11, 20** — From Middle English rappen, of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish rappa ("to strike, beat, rap") and German rappeln ("to rattle").
**Meanings 15, 18** — Perhaps contracted from rapparee.
**Meaning 9** — From RAP ("record of arrest and prosecution").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/rap (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).