slap

1
[ slap ]
See synonyms for: slapslappedslapping on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a sharp blow or smack, especially with the open hand or with something flat.

  2. a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack: the slap of the waves against the dock.

  1. a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.

verb (used with object),slapped, slap·ping.
  1. to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or with something flat.

  2. to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.

  1. to dash or cast forcibly: He slapped the package against the wall.

  2. to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often followed by on): The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.

adverb
  1. Informal. directly; straight; smack: The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.

Verb Phrases
  1. slap down,

    • to subdue, especially by a blow or by force; suppress.

    • to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply: to slap down dissenting voices.

Idioms about slap

  1. slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure: He got away with a slap on the wrist.

Origin of slap

1
First recorded in 1625–35; from Low German slapp(e); of expressive origin

synonym study For slap

1. See blow1.

Other words from slap

  • slapper, noun

Words Nearby slap

Other definitions for slap (2 of 2)

slap2
[ slap ]

noun
  1. a gap or opening, as in a fence, wall, cloud bank, or line of troops.

  2. a mountain pass.

  1. a wound or gash.

verb (used with object),slapped, slap·ping.
  1. to make a gap or opening in; breach.

Origin of slap

2
First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English slop(e) “inroad made into enemy ranks,” from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; cognate with German Schlupf “hiding place”

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

How to use slap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slap

slap

/ (slæp) /


noun
  1. a sharp blow or smack, as with the open hand, something flat, etc

  2. the sound made by or as if by such a blow

  1. a sharp rebuke; reprimand

  2. a bit of slap and tickle or slap and tickle British informal sexual play

  3. a slap in the face an insult or rebuff

  4. a slap on the back congratulation

  5. a slap on the wrist a light punishment or reprimand

verbslaps, slapping or slapped
  1. (tr) to strike (a person or thing) sharply, as with the open hand or something flat

  2. (tr) to bring down (the hand, something flat, etc) sharply

  1. (when intr, usually foll by against) to strike (something) with or as if with a slap

  2. (tr) informal, mainly British to apply in large quantities, haphazardly, etc: she slapped butter on the bread

  3. slap on the back to congratulate

adverbinformal
  1. exactly; directly: slap on time

  2. forcibly or abruptly: to fall slap on the floor

Origin of slap

1
C17: from Low German slapp, German Schlappe, of imitative origin

Derived forms of slap

  • slapper, 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