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 bill's creation was sparked by concerns about the troves of personal user data collected by TikTok and ByteDance, which critics claim poses a national security threat, based on fears the information could be tapped by the Chinese government. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2024

The Intercept and Time have reported that Project Nimbus provides services that can be tapped by the Israel Defence Forces. —Caroline Haskins, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2024

LinkedIn wants to tap into industry-specific user expertise LinkedIn has a close and tight connection to generative AI. —Bysharon Goldman, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024

Adobe will tap its own Firefly AI as well as technology from Pika Labs, OpenAI (with Sora), and Runway (Gen-2). —Michael Muchmore, PCMAG, 15 Apr. 2024

At first, Flynn and Scott tapped into their theater backgrounds and used the rehearsals as an opportunity to explore their characters and to try new things in the scenes. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024

Each song taps into a particular strand of emotion that no one else would think to identify, let alone try to write about. —Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024

The network soon tapped Ryan Seacrest, who will also serve as consulting producer, as Sajak's replacement for season 42. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024

Rasool says California has awarded $22 million for green hydrogen projects, including three plants that will tap renewable electricity to power electrolyzers, which produce hydrogen from water. —Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

Noun

On Guard will be on tap and in 4-pack cans, with a portion of the proceeds — $2 for each four-pack and $1 for each 16-ounce draft — going to the Detroit Historical Museum for its critical role in chronicling the city's legacy. —Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024

But in a world where most House seats aren't competitive, there are plenty of fascinating and potentially expensive primary battles on tap. —Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2024

Basketball activities outside of light shooting and moving around aren’t on tap yet. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2024

There are 27 beers on tap and much of the same menu that Limjoco created at his taverns. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024

Fans of coffee shop cold brew will love having cold brew on tap in the fridge. —Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024

Bar groups expect the taps to flow in the summer when sales are usually better, according to JD Wetherspoon Plc Chairman Tim Martin. —Chloé Meley, Fortune Europe, 8 Apr. 2024

Across the industry, streamers turned off the development-money tap as executives became risk-averse. —Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

But its creation, in accordance with ancient Jewish law, was not as simple as turning on a tap. —Jenna Russell Tristan Spinski, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

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

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