lap

1 of 5

noun (1)

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 lapHamilton Basso
lapful noun

lap

2 of 5

verb (1)

lapped; lapping

transitive verb

1
a
: to fold over or around something : wind
b
: to envelop entirely : swathe
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)

intransitive verb

1
: fold, wind
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

lap

3 of 5

noun (2)

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)

lap

4 of 5

verb (2)

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 up
Covered with sticky saliva, this long tongue helps the aardvark lap up a lot of termites.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
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.
c
transitive : to flow or splash against (something) in little waves
… the firm ribbon of beach lapped by waves.William Nack

lap

5 of 5

noun (3)

1
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
Phrases
the lap of luxury
: an environment of great ease, comfort, and wealth

Examples of lap in a Sentence

Verb (1) the armadillo's plates lap tightly so as to form a protective shield this recording of the symphony is sure to lap listeners in stereophonic bliss Noun (2) we were on the last lap of the journey, eagerly heading for home Verb (2) the waves gently lapped the sandy shore the creek lapped along through the ravine before collecting in the pond a stiff breeze that was causing the lake waters to lap against the hull with some force
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The researchers measured participants’ blood pressure in three different arm positions: resting on a surface, resting on the lap, and hanging by the side of the body. Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2024 Photo : Ten Tenths Motor Club Jeff Gordon gives a preview-day attendee a hot lap in the NASCAR Garage 56 Camaro. London Clark, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2024 The longtime judge could be seen wearing a light blue sweater, holding 15-month-old son Wren Alexander in his lap, who rocked denim baby overalls and a white T-shirt. Hannah Sacks, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024 The film made a multiple of 56 times on its $4.5 million budget and was less a breakthrough and more of a victory lap for Blumhouse, the studio that had for nearly two decades championed scary movies at a low cost with hopes of a high return. Andrew Webster, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lap 

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

Dictionary Entries Near lap

Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lap. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

lap

1 of 5 noun
1
: a loose panel in a garment : flap
2
a
: the clothing that lies on the knees and thighs when one sits
b
: the front part of a person between the waist and the knees when seated

lap

2 of 5 verb
lapped; lapping
1
2
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 noun
1
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

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