taps

American  

[taps] / tæps /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a signal by bugle or drum, sounded at night as an order to extinguish all lights, and sometimes performed as a postlude to a military funeral.

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taps British  

/ tæps /

noun

1. 1. (in army camps, etc) a signal given on a bugle, drum, etc, indicating that lights are to be put out

   2. any similar signal, as at a military funeral

2. (in the Guide movement) a closing song sung at an evening camp fire or at the end of a meeting

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Etymology

Origin of taps

1815–25, probably tap(too) , variant of tattoo ¹ + -s ³

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

taps

It taps into the reason why US money continues to pour into the English game - namely prestige, and the chance to grow not just in this country but around the world too.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Todd Montgomery pops the lid off a small tube and taps out hundreds of mosquitoes into the backyard of a suburban home outside Washington.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Johnson Matthey’s acquisition of Cormetech is a welcome strategic pivot, given it taps into the fast-expanding U.S. data center pipeline, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

The space taps into the brand’s chic, feminine energy, showcasing floral-print furniture and blending romantic, vintage-inspired designs with contemporary touches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Scruffy taps the low, dogs-only doorbell with his nose.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein