rap
1 of 6noun (1)
ˈrap 
1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
a
: a sharp rebuke or criticism
b
: a negative and often undeserved reputation or charge —often used with bum or bad
given a bum rap by the press
3
a
: the responsibility for or adverse consequences of an action
refused to take the rap
b
: a criminal charge
c
: a prison sentence
rap
2 of 6verb (1)
rapped; rapping
transitive verb
1
: to strike with a sharp blow
2
: to utter suddenly and forcibly
3
: to cause to be or come by raps
rap the meeting to order
4
: to criticize sharply
intransitive verb
1
: to strike a quick sharp blow
2
: to make a short sharp sound
rap
3 of 6verb (2)
rapped also rapt ˈrapt ; rapping
; rapping transitive verb
1
: to snatch away or upward
2
: enrapture
rap
4 of 6noun (2)
: a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
doesn't care a rap
rap
5 of 6verb (3)
rapped; rapping
intransitive verb
1
: to talk freely and frankly
2
: to perform rap music
rap
6 of 6noun (3)
1
: talk, conversation
also : a line of talk : patter
2
a
: a type of music of African American origin in which rhythmic and usually rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment
enjoys listening to rap
—often used before another noun rap musica rap album/artist/song
b
: a rap song
… the group mixes its usual raunch with mock news reports and anti-censorship raps …
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- charge
- complaint
- count
- indictment
Verb (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Verb (2)
- carry away
- enrapture
- enthrall
- enthral
- entrance
- rapture
- ravish
- transport
Noun (2)
- beans
- bubkes
- bupkes
- bupkus
- continental
- damn
- darn
- durn
- diddly [slang]
- diddly-squat [slang]
- doodley-squat
- doodly-squat
- fig
- ghost
- hoot
- iota
- jot
- lick
- modicum
- squat [slang]
- syllable
- tittle
- whit
- whoop
Verb (3)
- babble
- blab
- cackle
- chaffer [British]
- chat
- chatter
- chin [slang]
- converse
- gab
- gabble
- gas
- jabber
- jaw
- kibitz
- kibbitz
- natter
- palaver
- patter
- prate
- prattle
- rattle
- run on
- schmooze
- shmooze
- talk
- visit
Noun (3)
- backchat
- cackle
- causerie
- chat
- chatter
- chin music
- chin-wag [slang]
- chitchat
- confab
- confabulation
- gab
- gabfest
- gossip
- jangle
- jaw
- natter [chiefly British]
- palaver
- patter
- schmooze
- small talk
- table talk
- talk
- tête-à-tête
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English rappe
Verb (2)
back-formation from rapt
Noun (2)
perhaps from rap entry 1
Verb (3)
perhaps from rap entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1834, in the meaning defined above
Verb (3)
1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (3)
1967, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing rap
Kids Definition
rap 1 of 4
verb
ˈrap
rapped; rapping
: to give a quick sharp blow
rap
2 of 4noun
1
: a sharp blow or knock
2
: the blame or punishment for something
You did it, so you take the rap.
rap
3 of 4verb
rapped; rapping
1
: to talk freely and informally
2
: to perform rap music
rap
4 of 4noun
1
: an informal talk : chat
2
: a type of music that usually has a fast rhythm and in which words are spoken instead of sung
rapping 1 of 3
verb (1)
1
as in banging
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- banging
- knocking
- smacking
- slapping
- punching
- slamming
- hitting
- clapping
- pounding
- whacking
- cracking
- striking
- clipping
- swiping
- nailing
- batting
- boxing
- tapping
- bashing
- kicking
- thumping
- bopping
- jabbing
- hammering
- bobbing
- belting
- chopping
- slugging
- licking
- poking
- shoving
- stabbing
- swatting
- flicking
- pushing
- bumping
- busting
- tagging
- whaling
- thwacking
- clocking
- clobbering
- bludgeoning
- zapping
- stroking
- pasting
- clouting
- smiting
- biffing
- bonking
- socking
- beating
- slogging
- pummeling
- walloping
- mangling
- stamping
- battering
- whipping
- pelting
- lacing
- mauling
- cuffing
- lashing
- slashing
- peppering
- butting
- bunging
- bunting
- hanging one on
- scuffing
- roughing
- pummelling
- lambasting
- dumping
- clubbing
- jostling
- buffeting
- prodding
- switching
- decking
- pommelling
- pommeling
- creaming
- flailing
- flooring
- drubbing
- thrashing
- flogging
- cudgeling
- knocking down
- caning
- conking
- spearing
- sledgehammering
- felling
- sledging
- sapping
- leveling
- kneeing
- cudgelling
- sucker punching
- rabbit-punching
- braining
- skulling
- bowling (down or over)
- beaning
- levelling
2
as in drumming
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant Synonyms & Similar Words
- drumming
- tapping
- banging
- pounding
- beating
- clapping
- knocking
- hitting
- slamming
- patting
- bopping
- smacking
- thumping
- batting
- bashing
- hammering
- whacking
- thudding
- clicking
- swatting
- thwacking
- clattering
- flicking
- pasting
- bonking
- socking
- pinging
- striking
- clinking
- tipping
- walloping
- chinking
- pitter-pattering
- chucking
- pit-a-patting
rapping
2 of 3verb (2)
as in chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball Synonyms & Similar Words
- chatting
- talking
- conversing
- chattering
- rattling
- jabbering
- gabbing
- chinning
- cackling
- babbling
- pattering
- gabbling
- prattling
- nattering
- blabbing
- gassing
- schmoozing
- jawing
- discussing
- palavering
- prating
- twittering
- gossiping
- visiting
- blowing smoke
- kibbitzing
- chaffering
- shmoozing
- kibitzing
- chewing the rag
- running on
- tattling
- expatiating
- yapping
- shooting the breeze
- talking a blue streak
- chewing the fat
- yammering
- yakking
- descanting
- yacking
rapping
3 of 3verb (3)
1
as in transporting
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio Synonyms & Similar Words
- transporting
- entrancing
- delighting
- rapturing
- enrapturing
- pleasing
- carrying away
- enchanting
- enthralling
- ravishing
- satisfying
- fascinating
- charming
- captivating
- knocking dead
- stirring
- gratifying
- knocking one's socks off
- exciting
- bewitching
- gladdening
- exhilarating
- elating
2
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent Synonyms & Similar Words
- grabbing
- catching
- snatching
- seizing
- trapping
- landing
- getting
- capturing
- nailing
- grappling
- copping
- bagging
- hooking
- snaring
- snagging
- netting
- nabbing
- roping
- collaring
- corralling
- arresting
- nobbling
- grasping
- holding
- gloving
- kidnapping
- glomming
- clutching
- gripping
- cornering
- apprehending
- detaining
- taking hold (of)
- snapping (up)
- lassoing
- securing
- wresting
- meshing
- clasping
- haltering
- abducting
- fisting
- entrapping
- entangling
- baying
- ensnaring
- rending
- kidnaping
- enmeshing
- latching (on or onto)
- immeshing
- fastening (on)
- spiriting (away or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- missing
- discharging
- freeing
- dropping
- liberating
- releasing
- loosening
- unhanding