tap

Change speaker

You're listening to Joanna
She has an American accent.

NGSL Rank: 2294
tap
tap Listen
Meanings
noun
  • a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled.
    E.g. she turned the cold tap on
  • a device connected to a telephone for listening secretly to someone's conversations.
    E.g. those taps produced hundreds of hours of recordings
  • an instrument for cutting a threaded hole in a material.
  • a taproom.
verb
  • draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, or other container).
    E.g. several barrels had been tapped to celebrate old victories
  • exploit or draw a supply from (a resource).
    E.g. clients from industry seeking to tap Edinburgh's resources of expertise
  • connect a device to (a telephone) so that conversation can be listened to secretly.
    E.g. the telephones were tapped by the state security police
  • cut a thread in (something) to accept a screw.
    E.g. on most vices, the metal jaws are drilled and tapped to accept screws
verb
  • strike with a quick light blow or blows.
    E.g. one of my staff tapped me on the shoulder
  • designate or select (someone) for a task or honour, especially membership of an organization or committee.
    E.g. he had been tapped earlier to serve in Costa Rica
noun
  • a quick light blow, or the sound of such a blow.
    E.g. there was a sharp tap at the door
  • tap dancing.
    E.g. a rhythm much used in tap
  • a bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters.
    E.g. the bugler played taps

Practise saying this word

tap
Joanna
YouReset