1
a
: a loose overlapping or hanging panel or flap especially of a garment
b
archaic
: the skirt of a coat or dress
2
a
: the clothing that lies on the knees, thighs, and lower part of the trunk when one sits
b
: the front part of the lower trunk and thighs of a seated person
3
: responsible custody : control
going to drop the whole thing in your lap—
Hamilton Basso
Hamilton Basso
lapped; lapping
2
: to fold over especially into layers
3
: to hold protectively in or as if in the lap : cuddle
4
a
: to place over and cover a part of : overlap
lap shingles on a roof
b
: to join (things, such as two boards) by a lap joint
5
a
: to dress, smooth, or polish (something, such as a metal surface) to a high degree of refinement or accuracy
b
: to shape or fit by working two surfaces together with or without abrasives until a very close fit is produced
6
a
: to overtake and thereby lead or increase the lead over (another contestant) by a full circuit of a racecourse
b
: to complete the circuit of (a racecourse)
2
a
: to project beyond or spread over something
b
: to lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another : overlap
3
: to traverse a course
1
a
: the amount by which one object overlaps or projects beyond another
b
: the part of an object that overlaps another
2
: a smoothing and polishing tool usually consisting of a piece of wood, leather, felt, or soft metal in a special shape used with or without an embedded abrasive
3
: a doubling or layering of a flexible substance (such as fibers or paper)
4
a
: the act or an instance of traversing a course (such as a racing track or swimming pool)
also
: the distance covered
b
: one segment of a larger unit (such as a journey)
c
: one complete turn (as of a rope around a drum)
lapped; lapping; laps
1
a
transitive + intransitive
: to take in (food or drink) with the tongue
a cat lapping milk from a dish
—often used with upCovered with sticky saliva, this long tongue helps the aardvark lap up a lot of termites.—Jo Anne Chitwood Snow
Jo Anne Chitwood Snow
b
transitive
: to take in or absorb (something) eagerly or quickly
—used with up
The crowd lapped up every word he said.
2
a
intransitive
: to make a gentle, intermittent splashing sound
It was quiet except for the ripples of water lapping at the side of the boat.—Elisa Smith
Elisa Smith
b
intransitive
: to move in little waves : wash
… banging the table so hard that a couple of lattes lapped over the edge of their cups …—Douglas Frantz et al.
Douglas Frantz et al.
c
transitive
: to flow or splash against (something) in little waves
… the firm ribbon of beach lapped by waves.—William Nack
William Nack1
a
: an act or instance of lapping
b
: the amount that can be carried to the mouth by one lick or scoop of the tongue
2
: a thin or weak beverage or food
3
: a gentle splashing sound
Synonyms
Examples of lap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebHouston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
In the photo, Minnie sat on Kelly's lap as someone applied pink eyeshadow onto her eyelids.
—Jessica Booth, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
Lay your infant or child across your lap and on their stomach.
—Leah Groth, Health, 20 Sep. 2023
But Jackson and the Ravens’ offense responded, going 75 yards in 12 plays, capped by a pretty 17-yard touchdown pass that landed in the lap of wide receiver Nelson Agholor down the right sideline.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 17 Sep. 2023
One lap is for Mercury, two are for Venus and three are for Earth, etc.
—Joan Rusek, cleveland, 17 Sep. 2023
Tsegay accelerated over the last two laps to win the 5000m in 14 minutes, 00.21 seconds, obliterating the world record of 14:05.20 set earlier this year by Faith Kipyegon.
—oregonlive, 17 Sep. 2023
Despite her optimism, Dr. Palma is not running any victory laps yet.
—Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Sep. 2023
In preparation for his full-season debut next year and a likely rookie orientation program run in October at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for next year's Indianapolis 500, Armstrong will turn his first laps on an oval Sept. 13 in a private test at Texas Motor Speedway.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2023
Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Judging by the expression on Keaton's face during the finale, celebrities will lap up Lauren's haute-on-the-ranch lineup.
—Erik Maza, Town & Country, 9 Sep. 2023
The treatment room for my massage looked straight into the boathouse and through a grand stone archway leading out to the gently lapping water.
—Samantha Lauriello, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2023
Law enforcement blocked civilians from entry right at city limits, marked by a sign right across a bridge lapped by high waters.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
The crowd laps it up, but at least one unsmiling audience member, Ben (Justin H. Min), bites his tongue — for now, anyway.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2023
The small waves, cold and gentle, lapped my ankles, then my calves, then my thighs.
—Betsy Blumenthal, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 June 2023
There's a player who has the same look who laps fives with Booker.
—Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2023
On the bayou side of the town, water was still lapping up onto the sidewalks in some spots where chairs, bottles and other trash had been pushed onto the pavement by raging water.
—Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
Dante lived that motto himself, the quarterback running extra laps after youth football games while observers laughed.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
In the photo, Minnie sat on Kelly's lap as someone applied pink eyeshadow onto her eyelids.
—Jessica Booth, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
Lay your infant or child across your lap and on their stomach.
—Leah Groth, Health, 20 Sep. 2023
But Jackson and the Ravens’ offense responded, going 75 yards in 12 plays, capped by a pretty 17-yard touchdown pass that landed in the lap of wide receiver Nelson Agholor down the right sideline.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 17 Sep. 2023
One lap is for Mercury, two are for Venus and three are for Earth, etc.
—Joan Rusek, cleveland, 17 Sep. 2023
Tsegay accelerated over the last two laps to win the 5000m in 14 minutes, 00.21 seconds, obliterating the world record of 14:05.20 set earlier this year by Faith Kipyegon.
—oregonlive, 17 Sep. 2023
Despite her optimism, Dr. Palma is not running any victory laps yet.
—Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Sep. 2023
In preparation for his full-season debut next year and a likely rookie orientation program run in October at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for next year's Indianapolis 500, Armstrong will turn his first laps on an oval Sept. 13 in a private test at Texas Motor Speedway.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2023
Verb
On one white-sand beach, the waves of the Persian Gulf lapped at the shore as grinning clients braced themselves before plunging into tubs of ice water.
—Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Judging by the expression on Keaton's face during the finale, celebrities will lap up Lauren's haute-on-the-ranch lineup.
—Erik Maza, Town & Country, 9 Sep. 2023
The treatment room for my massage looked straight into the boathouse and through a grand stone archway leading out to the gently lapping water.
—Samantha Lauriello, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2023
Law enforcement blocked civilians from entry right at city limits, marked by a sign right across a bridge lapped by high waters.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
The crowd laps it up, but at least one unsmiling audience member, Ben (Justin H. Min), bites his tongue — for now, anyway.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2023
The small waves, cold and gentle, lapped my ankles, then my calves, then my thighs.
—Betsy Blumenthal, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 June 2023
There's a player who has the same look who laps fives with Booker.
—Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2023
On the bayou side of the town, water was still lapping up onto the sidewalks in some spots where chairs, bottles and other trash had been pushed onto the pavement by raging water.
—Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English lappe, from Old English læppa; akin to Old High German lappa flap
Verb (2)
Middle English, from Old English lapian; akin to Old High German laffan to lick, Latin lambere, Greek laphyssein to devour
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (3)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of lap was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing lap
Dictionary Entries Near lap
Cite this Entry
“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lap. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
lap
2 of 5 verb
lapped; lapping
3
: to lay or lie over or near something else so as to partly cover it
lap one shingle over another
lap
3 of 5 noun1
a
: the amount by which one object overlaps another
b
: the part of an object that overlaps another
2
a
: one time around a racetrack
b
: one part of a journey
lap
4 of 5 verb
lapped; lapping
1
: to scoop up food or drink with the tongue
2
: to wash or splash gently
lap
5 of 5 noun
: an act or sound of lapping
Etymology
Noun
Old English læppa "flap of a garment"
Verb
Old English lapian "to take into the mouth by means of the tongue"
Medical Definition
lap
abbreviation
laparotomy
More from Merriam-Webster on lap
Nglish: Translation of lap for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lap for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lap
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