nap

1
[ nap ]
See synonyms for: napnappingnaps on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),napped, nap·ping.
  1. to sleep for a short time; doze.

  2. to be off one's guard: The question caught him napping.

verb (used with object),napped, nap·ping.
  1. to sleep or doze through (a period of time, an activity, etc.) (usually followed by away): I napped the afternoon away. He naps away most of his classes.

noun
  1. a brief period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime: Has the baby had her nap?

Origin of nap

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb nappen, Old English hnappian, hnæppian “to sleep, slumber, doze”; cognate with Old High German (h)naffezen, Middle High German, German nafzen “to slumber”

Other words for nap

Words Nearby nap

Other definitions for nap (2 of 4)

nap2
[ nap ]

noun
  1. the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping.

  2. any downy coating, as on plants.

verb (used with object),napped, nap·ping.
  1. to raise a nap on.

Origin of nap

2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English noppe, nop(e); probably from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, nop, noppe; possibly from Old English (wull)hnoppa “(wool) tuft, tuft”

Other words from nap

  • napless, adjective
  • nap·less·ness, noun

Other definitions for nap (3 of 4)

nap3
[ nap ]

Origin of nap

3
First recorded in 1820–25; shortened form of napoleon

Other definitions for -nap (4 of 4)

-nap

  1. a combining form extracted from kidnap, with the general sense “abduct or steal in order to collect a ransom”: artnap; petnap; starnap.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nap (1 of 3)

nap1

/ (næp) /


verbnaps, napping or napped (intr)
  1. to sleep for a short while; doze

  2. to be unaware or inattentive; be off guard (esp in the phrase catch someone napping)

noun
  1. a short light sleep; doze

Origin of nap

1
Old English hnappian; related to Middle High German napfen

British Dictionary definitions for nap (2 of 3)

nap2

/ (næp) /


noun
    • the raised fibres of velvet or similar cloth

    • the direction in which these fibres lie when smoothed down

  1. any similar downy coating

  1. Australian informal blankets, bedding

verbnaps, napping or napped
  1. (tr) to raise the nap of (cloth, esp velvet) by brushing or similar treatment

Origin of nap

2
C15: probably from Middle Dutch noppe; related to Old English hnoppian to pluck

British Dictionary definitions for nap (3 of 3)

nap3

/ (næp) /


noun
  1. Also called: napoleon a card game similar to whist, usually played for stakes

  2. a call in this card game, undertaking to win all five tricks

  1. horse racing a tipster's choice for an almost certain winner

  2. go nap

    • to undertake to win all five tricks at nap

    • to risk everything on one chance

  3. not to go nap on Australian slang to hold in disfavour

  4. nap hand a position in which there is a very good chance of success if a risk is taken

verbnaps, napping or napped
  1. (tr) horse racing to name (a horse) as likely to win a race

Origin of nap

3
C19: short for napoleon, the original name of the card game

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