to tap
tap
tæp
tāp
rapgapdaplap

Definition & Meaning of "tap"in English

to tap
01

to hit someone or something gently, often with a few quick light blows 

Transitive: to tap an object or surface
to tap definition and meaning
Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
Action verb
Regular
Present tense
tap
3rd person singular
taps
Present participle
tapping
Past simple
tapped
Past participle
tapped
Examples
The drummer taps the snare drum softly during the ballad. 
02

to make use of or access a resource or source of information 

Transitive: to tap into a resource
Examples
I'll tap into my network of contacts to get more information about job opportunities in the industry. 
03

to secretly intercept or monitor communication on a telephone or telegraph wire to obtain information 

Transitive: to tap a communication channel
Examples
The detective had to tap the suspect's phone to gather evidence of illegal activities. 
04

to ask for or obtain something by begging or borrowing 

Ditransitive: to tap sb for sth
Examples
Feeling hungry, he decided to tap his roommate for a quick meal before heading out. 
05

to extract sap, often from maple trees, by making a hole in the trunk 

Transitive: to tap a tree
Examples
The farmer carefully tapped the maple tree to begin the process of production of maple products. 
06

to walk with a series of light, rhythmic, tapping sounds, usually produced by shoes with hard soles or heels hitting the ground 

Intransitive
Examples
The old house creaked as the real estate agent tapped from room to room. 
07

to lightly strike or hit a surface repeatedly, producing a series of short, sharp sounds 

Transitive: to tap sth on a surface
Examples
The drummer began to tap the drumsticks on the snare, setting the beat for the rest of the band. 
Tap
01

an object that controls the flow of liquid or gas from a container or pipe 

Dialectbritish flagBritish
faucetamerican flagAmerican
tap definition and meaning
Examples
She turned on the tap and filled the kettle with water. 
02

a light, soft knocking or striking noise 

Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
taps
Examples
I heard a tap on the window during the storm. 
03

a small or gentle contact, often repeated 

Examples
Give the paintbrush a light tap to remove excess paint. 
04

clandestine monitoring or listening in on a communication line 

Examples
The police had a tap on the suspect's phone. 
05

a stopper used to control the flow of liquid from a barrel or container 

Examples
He knocked the tap into the barrel to serve the wine. 
06

a soft hit or strike, usually with the hand or a light object 

Examples
He gave the table a tap to get everyone's attention. 
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