# slap

Pronunciation: say "SLAP" /slæp/

## Noun

1. A smacking blow, typically delivered with the palm of the hand or with a flat, broad object.
   - Simple: A hit given with the open hand or with something flat and broad.
   - _A sharp slap across the face brought the argument to a sudden halt._
   - _He felt the sting of a wet towel's slap on his back._
3. A sharp percussive sound like the one produced by an open-handed blow.
   - Simple: A sharp, loud sound like a flat hand hitting something.
   - _The slap of waves against the hull kept her awake all night._
   - _A sudden slap echoed across the yard as the rope snapped taut._
11. Makeup or cosmetics worn on the face. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Makeup worn on the face.
   - _Give me five minutes to put my slap on before we leave._
   - _She never leaves the house without a bit of slap._
12. A sticker with a bold, eye-catching design, used as a form of street art. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A bright sticker that street artists stick up in public places.
   - _She designs her own slaps and pastes them around the city._
   - _A bold slap with neon lettering covered the old poster._
14. The punchy, percussive note that the slap technique produces in bass playing.
   - Simple: The sharp, snapping sound made when playing slap bass.
   - _Each slap rang out crisply over the rhythm section._
   - _The producer boosted the slaps so they punched through the mix._

## Verb

2. To strike someone sharply with the open hand.
   - Simple: To hit a person sharply with your open hand.
   - _She raised her hand as if to slap him._
   - _The angry customer slapped the clerk before storming out._
4. To cause something to strike a surface soundly.
   - Simple: To make something hit a surface hard, with a loud sound.
   - _She slapped the dough onto the floured board._
   - _He likes to slap the cards down hard whenever he wins a hand._
5. To beat or strike against a surface with a sharp sound.
   - Simple: To hit against something with a loud, sharp sound.
   - _Loose ropes slap against the mast whenever the wind picks up._
   - _The flag slapped noisily against the pole during the storm._
6. To place or put something carelessly.
   - Simple: To put something down quickly and without much care.
   - _He slapped a few stickers on his laptop without thinking._
   - _Don't just slap the report on my desk and walk away._
7. To impose a penalty, fine, or charge on someone. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To give someone a punishment or charge, often suddenly.
   - _The court slapped him with a hefty fine for the violation._
   - _Officials threatened to slap new taxes on imported goods._
8. To be excellent, especially of music. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To be really good, especially when talking about music.
   - _The bass line on this track absolutely slaps._
   - _Those beats slap harder than anything else released this year._
13. To play a bass using the percussive technique of striking and snapping the strings. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To play a bass guitar by hitting and snapping the strings.
   - _He can slap his bass with incredible speed and precision._
   - _The bassist slapped her four-string through the entire set._

## Adverb

9. Exactly or precisely; used to emphasize an exact position or point.
   - Simple: Exactly, or right at a particular place or point.
   - _The café is slap in the center of the old town._
   - _He arrived slap on time for the meeting._

## Adjective

10. Very good, excellent, or amazing. *(slang, UK)*
   - Simple: Very good or amazing.
   - _The gig last night was properly slap._
   - _She reckons their new kit is slap._

## Origin

From Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative of the sound. It may be compared with Low German Slappe ("slap"), the source of German Schlappe ("defeat"), and with Italian sleppa ("slap").

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