noun
Uncommon
pap
pap
Pap (noun) means a soft, mushy food, especially one given to babies or the sick. Example: “The nurse fed the patient a bowl of pap after his surgery.”
noun
1
A soft, mushy food, especially one given to babies or the sick.
"The nurse fed the patient a bowl of pap after his surgery."
2
Undemanding or shallow entertainment or writing; empty content.
"Critics dismissed the film as sentimental pap."
3
Informal, mainly British slang for a paparazzo photographer.
"A pap camped outside the actor's hotel all week."
verb
1
To secretly photograph someone, usually a celebrity, without their permission.
"She was papped leaving the restaurant with her new boyfriend."
How to use pap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSoft baby food, shallow entertainment, or (as slang) a tabloid photographer.
Common mistake
The "photographer" sense is shortened from "paparazzo" and is mainly used informally in British tabloid culture.
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Word forms
- Plural
- paps
- Third person singular
- paps
- Past tense
- papped
- Comparative
- more pap
- Superlative
- most pap
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse fed the patient a bowl of _____ after his surgery.
Etymology
From Middle English pap, related to similar words across Germanic and Romance languages for soft food — likely originating in baby-talk.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “pap” mean?
The word “pap” means a soft, mushy food, especially one given to babies or the sick. In plain terms, soft baby food, shallow entertainment, or (as slang) a tabloid photographer.
How do you pronounce “pap”?
“Pap” is pronounced pap (/pæp/ in IPA).
How do you use “pap” in a sentence?
Here is “pap” used in a sentence: “The nurse fed the patient a bowl of pap after his surgery.”
What part of speech is “pap”?
Depending on how it is used, “pap” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pap” come from?
The word “pap” comes from Middle English. From Middle English pap, related to similar words across Germanic and Romance languages for soft food — likely originating in baby-talk.
Is “pap” a common word?
“Pap” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pap” have?
“Pap” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, mushy food, especially one given to babies or the sick.
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