noun

tap

noun

A fitting on a pipe or container that controls the flow of a liquid or gas.

"She turned on the kitchen tap to fill the kettle."

verb

To hit something lightly and briefly, often to get attention or make contact.

"He tapped her on the shoulder to say hello."

"Just tap the icon on your screen to open the app."

To secretly connect a device to a phone line or communication channel in order to listen in.

"Investigators tapped his phone as part of the fraud inquiry."

To draw on or make use of a resource, often one that was previously unused.

"The company tapped into a new market overseas."

How to Use Tap

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA valve for water or drink, a light touch or hit, or to secretly monitor a phone line, among several other senses.

Common pairings

turn on the tap tap someone's phone tap into resources tap the screen

Word Forms

tapped past tense, tapped past tense, tap plural, tapped plural, tap plural, tapped plural, taps singular, tap singular, tapped singular, tappest singular, tappedst singular, tappeth singular, taps singular, tap singular, tapped singular, tappest singular, tappedst singular, tappeth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She turned on the kitchen _____ to fill the kettle.

Etymology

From Old English tæppa, referring to a stopper or plug used to control liquid flowing from a container — the same root that gives us "tapster", someone who draws drinks from a barrel.

Synonyms

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clap knock pat ping plip plonk plop rap slap slam smack spank

Antonyms

humming

Related Words

swap hit defeat ping bang clap pat knock

Rhymes for tap

Pratap wiretap

See all rhymes for tap →

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