sap

¹ American  

[sap] / sæp /

noun

1. a short club with a heavy tip that is used as a weapon; blackjack; bludgeon.

   The burglar carried a set of lockpicks and a sap.

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verb (used with object)

1. to hit (someone) with a club.

   If he tries to sneak out, I'll sap him over the head.

sap ² American  

[sap] / sæp /

noun

1. Fortification.  a deep, narrow trench constructed so as to form an approach to a besieged place or an enemy's position.

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verb (used with object)

sapped, sapping

1. to undermine; gradually or insidiously weaken or destroy.

   Synonyms:

   undermine , weaken , tire , impair , exhaust , enfeeble , enervate , drain , deplete

2. Fortification.

   1. to approach (a besieged place or an enemy position) by means of deep, narrow trenches protected by gabions or parapets.

   2. to dig such trenches in (ground).

verb (used without object)

sapped, sapping

1. Fortification.  to dig a sap.

sap ³ American  

[sap] / sæp /

noun

1. the juice or vital circulating fluid of a plant, especially of a woody plant.

2. any vital body fluid.

3. energy; vitality.

4. sapwood.

5. Slang.  a fool; sucker; dupe.

6. Metallurgy.  soft metal at the core of a bar of blister steel.

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verb (used with object)

sapped, sapping

1. to drain the sap from.

sap ¹ British  

/ sæp /

noun

1. a solution of mineral salts, sugars, etc, that circulates in a plant

2. any vital body fluid

3. energy; vigour

4. slang  a gullible or foolish person

5. another name for sapwood

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verb

1. to drain of sap

SAP ² British  

/ sæp /

acronym

1. Standard Assessment Procedure, the recognized performance indicator for measuring energy efficiency in buildings

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sap ³ British  

/ sæp /

noun

1. a deep and narrow trench used to approach or undermine an enemy position, esp in siege warfare

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verb

1. to undermine (a fortification, etc) by digging saps

2. (tr) to weaken

SAP ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. South African Police

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sap Scientific  

/ săp /

1. The watery fluid that circulates through a plant that has vascular tissues. Sap moving up the xylem carries water and minerals, while sap moving down the phloem carries water and food.

2. See cell sap

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Other Word Forms

• sapless adjective

Etymology

Origin of sap¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; perhaps shortening of sapling or sapwood (used as a tool or weapon)

Origin of sap¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from French noun sape “spade, spadework,” derivative of saper “to dig a trench,” from Italian zappare “to undermine,” a military term, based on zappa “hoe”

Origin of sap¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sæp; cognate with Dutch sap; akin to German Saft juice, Old Norse safi; sap ¹ in def. 5 a shortening of saphead

Example Sentences

But if their presence somewhat saps our national story of its romanticism, it only adds to its deep interest.

From The Wall Street Journal

They were hunting for Tokyo Rose, the owner of a voice that sought to sap military morale by spreading propaganda through countless scratchy Allied radios.

From Los Angeles Times

Kyiv and its Western partners call the attacks cynical attempts to sap society's morale by plunging millions into the cold and dark as temperatures drop below freezing.

From Barron's

We all feel it: the growing stream of administrative tasks sapping our time, spirits and social lives.

From The Wall Street Journal

Russia is willing to endure tremendous human losses in the hopes that it will sap Ukraine of the resources and will to keep fighting.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• blunt
• deplete
• destroy
• drain
• erode
• exhaust
• impair
• ruin
• undermine
• vitiate
• wreck