noun
harp
hahp
noun
1
A large stringed musical instrument played by plucking strings stretched across an open frame.
"She plucked a gentle melody on the harp."
"An orchestra usually has one or two harps."
verb
1
To keep talking about the same thing, especially in an annoying or nagging way (usually "harp on").
"He's always harping on about how things used to be cheaper."
"Stop harping on my mistake — I already apologized."
How to Use Harp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe stringed instrument, or (as a verb) to keep going on about the same complaint.
Common mistake
"Harp on" always needs a topic — you harp on something, not just harp.
Common pairings
harp on about
play the harp
pluck a harp
Word Forms
harped past tense, harps singular
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She plucked a gentle melody on the _____.
Etymology
From Old English hearpe, going back to a shared Germanic root — the same word appears as Harfe in German and harpa in Swedish.