noun
yap
yap
noun
1
A high-pitched bark from a small dog.
"The neighbour's terrier let out a sharp yap every time the doorbell rang."
2
Casual, often pointless chatter.
"She tuned out the yap from the next table and got back to her book."
verb
1
To bark in short, high-pitched bursts, said of a small dog.
"The little dog yapped at every car that passed the gate."
2
To talk on and on, especially about nothing important.
"He yapped about his weekend for twenty minutes before anyone could get a word in."
How to Use Yap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick, sharp bark, or talking too much — usually about small dogs or chatty people.
When to use it
Informal; calling someone's talk "yap" or "yapping" is a bit dismissive.
Common pairings
a little yap
yap on about something
stop yapping
Word Forms
yapped past tense, yaps plural, yaps singular
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The neighbour's terrier let out a sharp _____ every time the doorbell rang.
Etymology
Likely imitative of the sound itself, echoing the related word "yelp."