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.”
How to use pap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSoft baby food, shallow entertainment, or (as slang) a tabloid photographer.
The "photographer" sense is shortened from "paparazzo" and is mainly used informally in British tabloid culture.
Word forms
more pap comparative, papped past tense, papped past tense, paps plural, paps plural, paps plural, paps singular, paps singular, most pap superlative
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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