yap

¹

[yap]

verb (used without object)

yapped, yapping 

1. to bark sharply, shrilly, or snappishly; yelp.

2. Slang.,  to talk shrilly, noisily, or foolishly.

verb (used with object)

yapped, yapping 

1. to utter by yapping.

noun

1. a sharp, shrill, or snappish bark; yelp.

2. Slang.

   1. shrill, noisy, or foolish talk.

   2. the mouth.

      Keep your yap shut.

3. Slang.,  an uncouth or stupid person; bumpkin; fool.

Yap

²

[yahp, yap]

noun

1. one of the Caroline Islands, in the W Pacific: part of the Federated States of Micronesia. 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km).

yap

¹

/ jæp /

verb

1. (of a dog) to bark in quick sharp bursts; yelp

2. informal,  to talk at length in an annoying or stupid way; jabber

noun

1. a high-pitched or sharp bark; yelp

2. slang,  annoying or stupid speech; jabber

3. slang,  a derogatory word for mouth

interjection

1. (usually reiterated) an imitation or representation of the sound of a dog yapping or people jabbering

Yap

²

/ jɑːp, jæp /

noun

1. a group of four main islands in the W Pacific, in the W Caroline Islands: administratively a district of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1947; became self-governing in 1979 as part of the Federated States of Micronesia; important Japanese naval base in World War II. Pop: 11 647 (2006 est). Area: 101 sq km (39 sq miles)

Other Word Forms

• yapper noun
• yappingly adverb
• yappy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of yap¹

1595–1605; 1900–05 yap for def. 5b; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of yap¹

C17: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Offstage, he was a doddering, stammering dad shuffling around rooms bustling with yapping tiny dogs urinating everywhere.

Read more on Salon

"She was just yapping. She said 'I'm going to America tomorrow. Going to buy stuff'. She loved shopping," her sister Donna says.

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At night, hungry coyotes yap and howl beyond the walls of Deborah’s ample, manicured yard.

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George Hirst went yapping to the referee and he got booked as well.

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"The amount of critics and people I've heard yapping along the way just clearly not understanding. Maybe because they never had the experience or just unaware."

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Related Words

• babble 
• ramble