lap
1the front part of the human body from the waist to the knees when in a sitting position.
the part of the clothing that lies on the front portion of the body from the waist to the knees when one sits.
a place, environment, or situation of rest or nurture: the lap of luxury.
area of responsibility, care, charge, or control: They dropped the problem right in his lap.
a hollow place, as a hollow among hills.
the front part of a skirt, especially as held up to contain something.
a part of a garment that extends over another: the lap of a coat.
a loose border or fold.
Origin of lap
1Other definitions for lap (2 of 4)
to fold over or around something; wrap or wind around something: to lap a bandage around one's finger.
to enwrap in something; wrap up; clothe.
to envelop or enfold: lapped in luxury.
to lay (something) partly over something underneath; lay (things) together, one partly over another; overlap.
to lie partly over (something underneath).
to get a lap or more ahead of (a competitor) in racing, as on an oval track.
to cut or polish with a lap.
to join, as by scarfing, to form a single piece with the same dimensions throughout.
to change (cotton, wool, etc.) into a compressed layer or sheet.
to fold or wind around something.
to lie partly over or alongside of something else.
to lie upon and extend beyond a thing; overlap.
to extend beyond a limit.
the act of lapping.
the amount of material required to go around a thing once.
a complete circuit of a course in racing or in walking for exercise: to run a lap.
an overlapping part.
the extent or amount of overlapping.
a rotating wheel or disk holding an abrasive or polishing powder on its surface, used for gems, cutlery, etc.
a compressed layer or sheet of cotton, wool, or other fibrous material usually wound on an iron rod or rolled into a cylindrical form for further processing during carding.
Origin of lap
2Other definitions for lap (3 of 4)
(of water) to wash against or beat upon (something) with a light, slapping or splashing sound: Waves lapped the shoreline.
to take in (liquid) with the tongue; lick in: to lap water from a bowl.
to wash or move in small waves with a light, slapping or splashing sound: The water lapped gently against the mooring.
to take up liquid with the tongue; lick up a liquid.
the act of lapping liquid.
the lapping of water against something.
the sound of this: the quiet lap of the sea on the rocks.
something lapped up, as liquid food for dogs.
lap up,
Informal. to receive enthusiastically: The audience lapped up his monologue.
to take in (all of a liquid) with the tongue; drink up: The cat lapped up her milk and looked for more.
Origin of lap
3Other definitions for lap (4 of 4)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use lap in a sentence
The winner that year, who offered voters beer, rum punch, wine and whiskey, lapped him seven times.
I was the only person in high-school history to be lapped in a mile race on a quarter-mile track.
I recall the events well, not least because the media lapped it up (it was even the second lead item on British television news).
Old Nazis May Be Dying Off But Nazi Hunting Continues to Thrive | Guy Walters | August 14, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThere was one other arena in which the two Deadspin reporters, Timothy Burke and Jack Dickey, lapped the mainstream types.
How the Media Missed the Hoax of Manti Te’o and His Fictional Girlfriend | Howard Kurtz | January 18, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Bangkok metro continued to operate even as a foot of water lapped at the entrances during the 2011 monsoon.
Hurricane Sandy’s Lesson for Flood-Proofing a Subway | Josh Dzieza | November 4, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
A very usual one is a double layer of roofing slates laid in neat Portland cement (fig. 8), the joints being well lapped.
There was a mighty slab of black rock, which the waves lapped listlessly, at one side of the river pool.
Menotah | Ernest G. HenhamHe brought it in his hat and gave it to the dog, who lapped it slowly at first, but afterwards much faster, and wagging his tail.
The Children of the New Forest | Captain MarryatRaymond ordered, pointing to a litter of handbills where the wavelets lapped the marge of seaweed.
Mushroom Town | Oliver OnionsRiggs made no reply, and went on rolling down his trousers leg, lapped a fold over at the bottom and pulled on his boot.
The Man of the Forest | Zane Grey
British Dictionary definitions for lap (1 of 3)
/ (læp) /
one circuit of a racecourse or track
a stage or part of a journey, race, etc
an overlapping part or projection
the extent of overlap
the length of material needed to go around an object
a rotating disc coated with fine abrasive for polishing gemstones
any device for holding a fine abrasive to polish materials
metallurgy a defect in rolled metals caused by the folding of a fin onto the surface
a sheet or band of fibres, such as cotton, prepared for further processing
(tr) to wrap or fold (around or over): he lapped a bandage around his wrist
(tr) to enclose or envelop in: he lapped his wrist in a bandage
to place or lie partly or completely over or project beyond
(tr; usually passive) to envelop or surround with comfort, love, etc: lapped in luxury
(intr) to be folded
(tr) to overtake (an opponent) in a race so as to be one or more circuits ahead
(tr) to polish or cut (a workpiece, gemstone, etc) with a fine abrasive, esp to hone (mating metal parts) against each other with an abrasive
to form (fibres) into a sheet or band
Origin of lap
1Derived forms of lap
- lapper, noun
British Dictionary definitions for lap (2 of 3)
/ (læp) /
(of small waves) to wash against (a shore, boat, etc), usually with light splashing sounds
(often foll by up) (esp of animals) to scoop (a liquid) into the mouth with the tongue
the act or sound of lapping
a thin food for dogs or other animals
Origin of lap
2- See also lap up
Derived forms of lap
- lapper, noun
British Dictionary definitions for lap (3 of 3)
/ (læp) /
the area formed by the upper surface of the thighs of a seated person
Also called: lapful the amount held in one's lap
a protected place or environment: in the lap of luxury
any of various hollow or depressed areas, such as a hollow in the land
the part of one's clothing that covers the lap
drop in someone's lap give someone the responsibility of
in the lap of the gods beyond human control and power
Origin of lap
3Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with lap
In addition to the idioms beginning with lap
- lap of luxury, in the
- lap of the gods, in the
- lap up
also see:
- drop in someone's lap
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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