harp
a musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame formed by a soundbox, a pillar, and a curved neck, and having strings stretched between the soundbox and the neck that are plucked with the fingers.
anything that resembles this instrument, especially in having a row of parallel strings or wires, as various mechanical devices or kitchen implements for slicing cheese.
a vertical metal frame shaped to bend around the bulb in a standing lamp and used to support a lamp shade.
Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of Irish birth or descent.
Also called harper . any of several English coins issued for use in Ireland during the 16th and 17th centuries, bearing the figure of a harp on the reverse.
South Midland and Southern U.S. a mouth harp; harmonica.
to play on a harp.
harp on / upon to dwell on persistently or tediously in speaking or writing: He was always harping on the importance of taking vitamin supplements.
Origin of harp
1Other words from harp
- harplike, adjective
- un·harped, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use harp in a sentence
He sold his harps and bought photography equipment, taking round-the-clock photos of a mannequin in different kinds of light.
Shooting the Stars With Fashion Photographers Markus and Indrani | Abigail Pesta | November 25, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTNow see the confusion, the shame, and the fear that followed those harps and timbrels and trumpets.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. DrinkwaterAnd I will make the multitude of thy songs to cease, and the sound of thy harps shall be heard no more.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThe sweet, deep, distant melody seemed to come from a choir of harps and violins, strengthened by an accompaniment of organs.
Urania | Camille FlammarionThe black notes on the stave show the scale which may be produced by using two harps, one tuned a fourth above the other.
Three of the harps badly out of tune; two strings missing on another.
A Parody Outline of History | Donald Ogden Stewart
British Dictionary definitions for harp
/ (hɑːp) /
a large triangular plucked stringed instrument consisting of a soundboard connected to an upright pillar by means of a curved crossbar from which the strings extend downwards. The strings are tuned diatonically and may be raised in pitch either one or two semitones by the use of pedals (double-action harp). Basic key: B major; range: nearly seven octaves
something resembling this, esp in shape
an informal name (esp in pop music) for harmonica
(intr) to play the harp
(tr) archaic to speak; utter; express
(intr; foll by on or upon) to speak or write in a persistent and tedious manner
Origin of harp
1Derived forms of harp
- harper or harpist, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for harp
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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