tap

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈtap 

tapped; tapping

transitive verb

1

: to strike lightly especially with a slight sound

2

: to give a light blow with

tap a pencil on the table

3

: to bring about by repeated light blows

tap out a story on the typewriter

4

: to repair by putting a tap on

5

: select, designate

was tapped for police commissioner

specifically : to elect to membership (as in a fraternity)

intransitive verb

1

: to strike a light audible blow : rap

2

: to walk with light audible steps

3

: tap-dance

tap

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

a

: a light usually audible blow

also : its sound

b

: one of several usually rapid drumbeats on a snare drum

2

: a small metal plate for the sole or heel of a shoe

3

: tap dance sense 1

4

: half sole

5

: flap sense 7

tap

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: a plug for a hole (as in a cask) : spigot

b

: a device consisting of a spout and valve attached to the end of a pipe to control the flow of a fluid : faucet

2

a

: a liquor drawn through a tap

b

: the procedure of removing fluid (as from a body cavity)

3

: wiretap

4

: a tool for forming an internal screw thread

5

: an intermediate point in an electric circuit where a connection may be made

tap

4 of 4

verb (2)

tapped; tapping

transitive verb

1

: to let out or cause to flow by piercing or by drawing a plug from the containing vessel

tap wine from a cask

2

a

: to pierce so as to let out or draw off a fluid

tap maple trees

b

: to draw out, from, or upon

tap new sources of revenue

the story taps powerful emotions

3

: to cut in on (something, such as a telephone or radio signal) to get information

4

: to form an internal screw thread in by means of a tap

5

: to get money from as a loan or gift

6

: to connect (a street gas or water main) with a local supply

Phrases

on tap

1

: ready to be drawn from a large container (such as a cask or keg)

ale on tap

2

: broached or furnished with a tap

3

: on hand : available

services instantly on tap

—Hugh Dwan

4

: coming up

other matches on tap

—H. W. Wind

tap into

: to make a strong or advantageous connection with

trying to tap into a new market

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• beat
• drum
• rap

Noun (2)

• cock
• faucet
• gate
• spigot
• stopcock
• valve

Verb (2)

• bleed
• draft
• drain
• draw (off)
• pump
• siphon
• syphon

Examples of tap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The document signers included Mira Murati, OpenAI's chief technology officer, who was briefly tapped as interim CEO, and Ilya Sutskever, a board member viewed as having a hand in Altman's abrupt firing on Friday. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023

Seven Bucks Productions, founded by Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, has tapped Scott Landsman and Melissa Fried as head of television and VP of film development and production, respectively. —Jaden Thompson, Variety, 20 Nov. 2023

This gave me a unique opportunity to tap into a niche that was untapped at the time, which was men’s jewelry. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2023

For example, loan officers share ideas with agents on how to tap their personal networks to find buyers and sellers. —Roger Showley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2023

And according to Dana Tang, lead architect and designer of the original Mii amo, whose firm, Gluckman Tang Architects, was also tapped to lead the renovation, that was very much the idea. —Annie Daly, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023

Yonezu has been a fan of Chainsaw Man since the serialization of the original manga began, and being tapped to work on the opening theme for the anime version was a meaningful experience to him. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2023

Users tap and hold the Pin to talk to Ai Mic and can ask similar questions to those handled by generative AI chatbots or voice assistants like Alexa and Siri, such as queries about current or historical events, requests for help with language translations, and to order up poems. —WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023

Kelsea Ballerini tapped boyfriend Chase Stokes to join her at the CMA Awards as well, and the pair walked the red carpet together ahead of the show. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023

Noun

Hide and then Hide Photo to confirm To find the photo, tap Albums at the bottom of your screen Scroll all the way down and tap Hidden. —Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2023

Also on tap is the Desi Arnaz for 2-year-old fillies. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023

Each vampire tap had a D-type connector socket in it, consisting of a plug with nine pins that matched to a socket with nine jacks. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Nov. 2023

Also on tap outside are tranquil gardens and a private studio space ideal for the at-home artist. —James McClain, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2023

For example, Left Hand Brewing Co. from Longmont recently took over the taps with Milk Stout Nitro, Peanut Butter Milk Stout Nitro, Pumpkin Spice Latte Nitro and other beers. —Linnea Covington, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

Massages are on tap in the tented spa, which is set in a ponderosa pine forest. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2023

The actor preferred dancing to studying and took ballet, tap and jazz while growing up in Brooklyn. —Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023

Exuberance was on tap at the Los Angeles bar after the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists struck a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on Day 118 of the Hollywood actors’ strike, the longest in history. —Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English tappen, from Old French taper to strike with the flat of the hand, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German tāpe paw, blow dealt with the paw

Noun (2)

Middle English tappe, from Old English tæppa; akin to Old High German zapho tap

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tap

• love tap
• tap-off
• tap dance
• tap-in
• tap water
• tap pants
• tap out
• tap shoe
• spinal tap
• on tap
• tap into

See More

• love tap
• tap-off
• tap dance
• tap-in
• tap water
• tap pants
• tap out
• tap shoe
• spinal tap
• on tap
• tap into

See More

Kids Definition

tap

1 of 4 noun

ˈtap 

1

: faucet, spigot

2

: the procedure of removing fluid from a container or cavity by tapping

tap

2 of 4 verb

tapped; tapping

1

: to release or cause to flow by making a hole or by drawing a plug from a container or cavity

tap wine from a cask

2

a

: to make a hole in so as to let out or draw off a fluid

tap maple trees

b

: to draw from or upon

tap the nation's resources

tapper noun

tap

3 of 4 verb

tapped; tapping

: to strike or cause to strike lightly especially with a slight sound

tap on a window

tap one's foot

tapper noun

tap

4 of 4 noun

1

: a light blow or its sound

2

: a small metal plate for the sole or heel of a shoe (as for tap dancing)

Etymology

Noun

Old English tæppa "a plug for a hole (as in a wine cask)"

Verb

Middle English tappen "to strike lightly, tap," from early French taper "to strike with the side of the hand"; of Germanic origin

Medical Definition

tap

1 of 4 noun

ˈtap 

: the procedure of removing fluid (as from a body cavity) see lumbar puncture

tap

2 of 4 transitive verb

tapped; tapping

: to pierce so as to let out or draw off a fluid

tap the spine for a specimen of cerebrospinal fluid

tap

3 of 4 transitive verb

tapped; tapping

: to strike lightly especially with a slight sound

tap

4 of 4 noun

: a light usually audible blow

also : its sound