lap
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈlap 
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 lapful
ˈlap-ˌfu̇l
noun lap
2 of 5verb (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 5noun (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 5verb (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
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 Nacklap
5 of 5noun (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
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- overlap
- overlay
- overlie
- overspread
Noun (2)
- leg
- stage
Verb (2)
- bathe
- lave
- lip
- splash
- wash
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
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
Phrases Containing lap
Kids Definition
lap 1 of 4
noun
ˈlap
: the front part of a person between the hips and the knees when seated
lap
2 of 4verb
lapped; lapping
: overlap Lap one paper over another.
lap
3 of 4noun
1
: a part of something that overlaps another part
2
: one time around or over a course (as of a racetrack or swimming pool)
3
: a stage in a trip
lap
4 of 4verb
lapped; lapping
1
: to scoop up food or drink with the tongue
The dog lapped up the water.
2
: to splash gently
The cold stream lapped his bare heels … Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia Medical Definition
lap
abbreviation
laparotomy
lap 1 of 3
noun
as in leg
a portion of a trip we were on the last lap of the journey, eagerly heading for home Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- leg
- stage
- layover
- stopover
lap
2 of 3verb (1)
1
as in to wash
to flow along or against the waves gently lapped the sandy shore Synonyms & Similar Words
- wash
- lip
- splash
- bathe
- lave
- bubble
- ripple
- gurgle
- slosh
- plash
2
as in to splash
to flow in a broken irregular stream the creek lapped along through the ravine before collecting in the pond Synonyms & Similar Words
- wash
- splash
- drip
- dribble
- bubble
- trickle
- gurgle
- plash
- ripple
- rush
- swirl
- guggle
- drop
- squirt
- jet
- spurt
- eddy
- swish
- purl
- whish
- spew
- swoosh
- swash
- spout
- gush
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stream
- run
- roll
- pour
3
as in to ripple
to move with a splashing motion a stiff breeze that was causing the lake waters to lap against the hull with some force Synonyms & Similar Words
- splash
- ripple
- bubble
- slosh
- plash
- swash
- gurgle
- babble
lap
3 of 3verb (2)
1
as in to overlap
to lie over parts of one another the armadillo's plates lap tightly so as to form a protective shield Synonyms & Similar Words
- overlap
- overlay
- shingle
- overlie
- overspread
2
as in to wrap
to surround or cover closely this recording of the symphony is sure to lap listeners in stereophonic bliss Synonyms & Similar Words
- wrap
- shroud
- envelop
- bosom
- enclose
- cocoon
- mantle
- drape
- bower
- encase
- muffle
- embosom
- embrace
- veil
- circle
- encompass
- enfold
- blanket
- embower
- involve
- cloak
- encircle
- swathe
- circumfuse
- enwrap
- enswathe
- enshroud
- curtain
- embed
- inclose
- invest
- swaddle
- disguise
- overlay
- mask
- camouflage
- imbed
- enwind
- overspread
- enlace
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strip
- bare
- expose
- denude