tap

TAP/tæp/

Verbtaps, tapping, tapped

Noun pluraltaps

42 meanings of tap

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To hit or touch something lightly, often again and again, making a soft, sharp sound.
Like drumming your fingers while you wait.
Tap your fingers on the table if you feel bored.
He tapped his foot in time with the music.
UsageSay tap your foot or tap someone on the shoulder.
Similardrum, rap, knock, pat
Note
2
use resourcesverbfigurativelytransitive
To open up or break into something so you can use what is inside.
Like opening a piggy bank to reach the coins inside.
The company hopes to tap new markets in Asia.
She tapped her savings to pay for the trip.
UsagePeople also say tap into: tap into new markets.
Similarharness, exploit, utilize
Note
3
faucetnouncountable
A handle or valve you turn to control the flow of water, other liquids, or gas.
Like the handle on a drinking fountain that lets water out when you turn it.
Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth.
The beer tap at the bar stopped working halfway through the night.
UsageSay turn on the tap. In North America people often say faucet.
Similarfaucet, spigot, spout, cock, stopcock
Note
4
press (screen)verbtransitive
To touch a button or icon on a phone or other device to make it do something.
Like flipping a light switch, but on a screen.
Tap the camera icon to launch the app.
She tapped the notification to read the message.
UsageSay tap the icon or tap on the icon.
Similarpress, touch, hit
5
a light knocknouncountable or uncountable
A light hit that makes a clear sound, or the sound it makes.
Like the small sound a pencil makes when it touches a desk.
There was a soft tap on the door.
I heard a tap as the spoon hit the cup.
UsageSay a tap on the door.
Similarknock, rap, patter, pat
Note
6
choose for roleverbcolloquialUStransitive
To pick someone for a job, an honor, or a special role.
Like a teacher choosing you to be line leader for the day.
The coach tapped her to lead the team this season.
They tap a new student each year to give the big speech.
UsageSay be tapped to do a job: she was tapped to lead.
Similarchoose, pick, select, appoint, name
Note
7
dance stylenoununcountableabbreviationellipsis
Short for tap dance: dancing in shoes with metal plates that tap out rhythms on the floor.
She has studied tap since she was five.
He teaches tap every Tuesday evening.
UsageSay study tap or a tap class.
Note
8
a screen touchnouncountable or uncountable
A single touch on a phone screen or other touchscreen to make something happen.
With a few taps on her phone, she sent the photo to her grandma.
The app missed my tap, so I touched the button again.
UsageSay a tap or a few taps on the screen.
Similartouch, press
9
listen secretlyverbfigurativelytransitive
To secretly listen to or record someone's phone calls using a hidden device.
Like quietly listening at a door to hear a private talk.
Police tapped his phone for several months.
They wanted to tap the suspect's calls.
UsageSay tap someone's phone.
Similareavesdrop
Note
10
verbtransitive
To open a barrel, tree, or other source so that liquid can flow out and be collected.
Like opening a faucet to let water out of a tank.
They tap maple trees each spring to make syrup.
We tapped water from the rain barrel for the garden.
Note
11
nouncountable
A hidden device that secretly listens to phone calls, or a recording made this way.
Like a secret recording of a private phone call.
The court approved a tap on the suspect's calls.
Prosecutors played the tap during the trial.
Similarwiretap, bug
12
verbintransitive
In fighting sports, to give up by tapping the floor or opponent, or to make an opponent give up.
Like saying "I give up" so a game can stop.
He tapped before the hold could hurt him.
Fighters tap when they cannot escape a lock.
UsageSay tap or tap out when you give up in a fight.
Similarsubmit
Note
13
cut threadsverbtransitive
To cut spiral grooves inside a hole so a bolt or screw can fit.
Like carving grooves inside a tube so a lid can screw on.
He tapped the hole so the bolt would screw in.
You must tap each hole before fitting the screws.
Similarthread
Note
14
nounBritishcountable
A connection made to an electric wire or a pipe without cutting it.
The electrician added a tap to the main power cable to bring electricity to the shed.
The workers put a tap on the city water pipe so the new school could have its own line.
Note
15
verbcolloquialfigurativelytransitive
To ask or beg someone to give you something for free.
My little brother tries to tap Grandpa for movie money.
He tapped his uncle for a few dollars to buy a soda.
UsageSay tap someone for money.
Similarbeg, scrounge, mooch, cadge, bum
Note

Less common meanings

16
shoe platenouncountable or uncountable
A small metal plate fixed under a dance shoe to make a sharp sound when the foot hits the floor.
Like a little metal cap under your shoe that clicks each time you step.
She screwed a new tap onto the toe of her dance shoe.
The taps on his shoes clicked against the wooden floor.
Note
17
thread cutternouncountable
A tool used to cut spiral grooves inside a hole so a screw or bolt can fit.
Like a corkscrew that carves grooves so a screw can grip.
She turned the tap slowly to cut clean threads in the metal.
A snapped tap is hard to remove from a hole.
Note
18
shoot someoneverbslangtransitive
To shoot someone or something with a gun.
In the video game, you can tap an enemy with one quick shot.
They tapped the target from across the street.
Similarshoot, plug
Note
19
a gunshotnounslangcountable or uncountable
A single shot fired from a gun or other firearm.
He put two quick taps into the center of the target.
Police trainees practice the double tap: two quick shots from a pistol.
UsageSay double tap for two quick shots.
Similarshot
20
have sexverbslangvulgartransitive
To have sex with someone.
He bragged that he had tapped half the people at the party.
She had no interest in letting him tap her.
UsageOften in I'd tap that, said about someone attractive. It treats the person as an object.
Similarbed
Note
21
noun
A quick touch of the tongue that makes a short consonant sound.
22
nounarchaic
A small pointed plug used to open or close a hole in a barrel or other container.
23
verbobsolete
To work drawing beer and other drinks from barrels for customers.
Ile entertaine Bardolfe. He ſhall tap, he ſhall dravv.
c. 1597, William Shakespeare, [T]he Merrie Wiues of Windsor. (First Quarto)
24
nounrare
A long, pointed root that grows straight down from a plant, like a carrot.
25
verb
In some card games, to turn a card sideways to show it has been used this round.
26
noun
A kind of beer or drink, or a kind of anything.
27
noun
A way a government sells bonds a little at a time.
28
nounBritish
A bar where beer is served.
29
verbcolloquial
To take fluid out of a space inside the body, such as the belly, with a needle.
30
verb
To use all of something.
31
verb
In poker, to bet enough that another player must risk all their chips to stay in.
32
verb
To remove a plant's main root.
33
verb
To cut a screw thread on the outside of a rod.
34
verb
To put a screw into something.
35
verbobsolete
To spend a lot of money.
36
verbslang
To arrest someone.
37
verb
To touch parts of the body lightly again and again during therapy.
38
verbdialectal
To fix a shoe by adding a new bottom or heel.
39
verbobsolete
Of rabbits and hares looking for mates, to thump the ground with their feet.
40
nouncolloquial
Even a little bit of work.
41
noundialectal
A piece put on the bottom of a shoe to fix it.
42
noundialectalEastIndia
A fever caused by malaria.

Practice

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

Origins

Meanings 2–3, 9–11, 13–15, 17

The noun comes from Old English tæppa, a peg or plug used to control the flow of liquid. The verb comes from the same root, meaning to draw liquid from a tap.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

The liquid-control noun derives from Old English tæppa. en.wiktionary.org
Old English tæppa denoted a plug or spigot used to control liquid flow. en.wiktionary.org
The liquid-drawing verb shares the noun's root. en.wiktionary.org
The ancestral verb meant to draw liquid from a tap. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 4–8, 12, 16, 18–20

The verb means to strike lightly. It may simply imitate the tapping sound, or come from Old French or Middle Low German words meaning to strike. The noun means a light blow.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

The verb may imitate the tapping sound. en.wiktionary.org
The verb may derive from Old French words meaning to strike. en.wiktionary.org
The verb may derive from Middle Low German words meaning to strike. en.wiktionary.org