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
1Words Nearby lap
Other 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
An ultra-portable lap desk with an adjustable easel helps remedy these problems, by providing that little ergonomic lift.
Convenient laptop stands with adjustable easels | PopSci Commerce Team | September 23, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThis makes it not only a great lap desk for working from a couch or coffee table—or even from the floor—but also an excellent standing desk converter for your existing work setup.
Convenient laptop stands with adjustable easels | PopSci Commerce Team | September 23, 2020 | Popular-ScienceHuman drivers who notice that their cars are close to overheating, for example, may decide to take the risk and finish a race if there are just a few laps left.
Self-driving cars will hit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a landmark A.I. race | jonathanvanian2015 | September 19, 2020 | FortuneIn order to win, a team’s autonomous car must be able to complete 20 laps—which equates to a little less than 50 miles in distance—and cross the finish line first in 25 minutes or less.
Self-driving cars will hit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a landmark A.I. race | jonathanvanian2015 | September 19, 2020 | FortuneBy July, we would normally have accumulated hundreds of laps worth of data from race weekends to help develop the car.
How data helped keep Red Bull’s F1 team on track during the pandemic | Jeremy Kahn | September 19, 2020 | Fortune
New Senate Majority Leader McConnell had just taken a victory lap held a press conference.
This is a certifiable situation in our collective nervous lap, and the time is now for.
Instead of taking a victory lap, she was was dodging reporters.
Koch Brothers Bail Out GOP Senate Hopeful in Oregon | Ben Jacobs | August 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA. I struck him in the back of the head while he was in my lap fighting to break free.
From Ferguson Cop Embroiled in a Brutality Suit to City Councilwoman | Michael Daly | August 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTihen had insisted he was in her lap as she struggled to handcuff him.
From Ferguson Cop Embroiled in a Brutality Suit to City Councilwoman | Michael Daly | August 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAt the sight, Felipe flung himself on his knees before her; he kissed the aged hands as they lay trembling in her lap.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonSee the ease and grace of the lady in the sacque, who sits on the bank there, under the myrtles, with the guitar on her lap!
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuI turned round, thrust my purse into the lap of the nearest, and with a light heart led the lady back to the hotel.
There was a picture of Madame Lebrun with Robert as a baby, seated in her lap, a round-faced infant with a fist in his mouth.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinBefore that time we always put rope-yarn between the lap of the boiler-plates to make the seams tight.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis Trevithick
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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