nap
nap
Nap (verb) means to sleep briefly, especially during the day. Example: “She likes to nap for twenty minutes after lunch.”
verb
1
To sleep briefly, especially during the day.
"She likes to nap for twenty minutes after lunch."
"The baby napped through most of the flight."
"Grandad likes to nap in his armchair when the afternoon gets warm."
noun
1
A short period of sleep, especially during the day.
"I need a quick nap before the meeting."
"He took a nap on the sofa while the game was on."
"The toddler woke from her nap in a cheerful mood."
2
The short raised fibres on the surface of fabric or leather.
"Brush the velvet against the nap and it changes colour."
"The nap on the new carpet still feels stiff."
"Stroke the suede gently and you can see the nap change shade."
How to use nap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short sleep, usually during the day, or the fuzzy surface texture of a fabric.
Common mistake
The fabric sense (the direction of the fibres) is unrelated to the sleep sense — they just happen to share a spelling.
Common pairings
take a nap
quick nap
nap on the sofa
against the nap
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Word forms
- Plural
- naps
- Third person singular
- naps
- Past tense
- napped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She likes to _____ for twenty minutes after lunch.
Etymology
From Old English hnappian, "to doze", going back to a Germanic root shared with other words for nodding off to sleep.
Related words
Rhymes for nap
See all rhymes for nap →Frequently asked questions
What does “nap” mean?
The word “nap” means to sleep briefly, especially during the day. In plain terms, a short sleep, usually during the day, or the fuzzy surface texture of a fabric.
How do you pronounce “nap”?
“Nap” is pronounced nap (/næp/ in IPA).
How do you use “nap” in a sentence?
Here is “nap” used in a sentence: “She likes to nap for twenty minutes after lunch.”
What part of speech is “nap”?
Depending on how it is used, “nap” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “nap” come from?
The word “nap” comes from Old English. From Old English hnappian, "to doze", going back to a Germanic root shared with other words for nodding off to sleep.
Is “nap” a common word?
“Nap” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “nap” have?
“Nap” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sleep briefly, especially during the day.
What is the difference between a nap and sleeping?
A nap is specifically a short period of sleep, especially during the day, while sleeping more broadly covers any period of rest, including a full night's sleep. A nap is always brief and typically intentional or restorative rather than the main sleep period.
What does nap mean when talking about fabric?
When referring to fabric or leather, nap describes the short raised fibres on its surface, a completely different sense from the sleep-related meanings of the word.
Is nap used as both a verb and a noun?
Yes, nap can be used as a verb meaning to sleep briefly, especially during the day, and as a noun meaning the short sleep itself or, separately, the raised fibres on fabric.
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