tap (n.)

  1. the sound made by a gentle blow

    [ Syn: pat , rap ]

  2. a gentle blow

    [ Syn: rap , strike ]

  3. a faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask

    [ Syn: water faucet , water faucet , water tap , water tap , hydrant , hydrant ]

  4. a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing)

  5. a tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads

  6. a plug for a bunghole in a cask

    [ Syn: spigot ]

  7. the act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information

    [ Syn: wiretap ]

  8. a light touch or stroke

    [ Syn: pat , dab ]

    tap (v.)

  1. cut a female screw thread with a tap

  2. draw (liquor) from a tap; tap beer in a bar'

  3. pierce in order to draw a liquid from; tap a maple tree for its syrup; tap a keg of beer'

  4. make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently; Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce; My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities

    [ Syn: solicit , beg ]

  5. draw from or dip into to get something; tap one's memory; tap a source of money'

  6. strike lightly; He tapped me on the shoulder

    [ Syn: tip ]

  7. draw from; make good use of; we must exploit the resources we are given wisely

    [ Syn: exploit ]

  8. tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information; The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy; Is this hotel room bugged?

    [ Syn: wiretap , intercept , bug ]

  9. furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it; tap a cask of wine'

  10. make light, repeated taps on a surface; he was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently

    [ Syn: rap , knock , pink ]

  11. walk with a tapping sound

  12. dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes; Glover tapdances better than anybody

    [ Syn: tapdance ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.