lap

[ lap ]

/ læp /

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See synonyms for: lap / lapped / lapping on Thesaurus.com

noun

the 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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of lap

First recorded before 900; Middle English lap(pe) “lower part of a shirt or skirt,” Old English læppa “skirt (of a garment)”; cognate with Dutch lap; akin to German lappen, Old Norse leppr “lock of hair; rag, patch”

Other definitions for lap (2 of 4)

lap²

[ lap ]

/ læp /

verb (used with object), lapped, lap·ping.

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.

verb (used without object), lapped, lap·ping.

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.

noun

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

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English lappen, lap(pe) “to fold, wrap”; cognate with Dutch lappen “to patch, mend”; akin to lap¹

Other definitions for lap (3 of 4)

lap³

[ lap ]

/ læp /

verb (used with object), lapped, lap·ping.

(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.

verb (used without object), lapped, lap·ping.

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.

noun

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.

Verb Phrases

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

First recorded before 1000; Middle English lap(p)en, Old English lapian; cognate with Middle Low German lapen, Old High German laffan; akin to Latin lambere “to lick, touch,”Greek láptein “to lick, lap”

Other definitions for lap (4 of 4)

lap⁴

[ lap ]

/ læp /

verb Archaic.

archaic simple past tense of leap.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lap in a sentence

His black hair sweeps back from the crest of his high forehead and laps at the nape of his neck; his lips are pursed.
Meet Alexandre Desplat, Hollywood’s Master Composer|Andrew Romano|February 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gus spent more time hunting his dinner, and less time on his laps.
A Eulogy for Gus, Central Park’s Polar Bear Man of Mystery|Malcolm Jones|August 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The media, meanwhile, eagerly laps up new and exciting mental afflictions, reporting on them credulously.
America’s Epidemic of Psychiatric Over-Diagnosis|Jesse Singal|June 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And just imagine if every military measure succeeded, and Syria fell into our laps.
So, You Want Another War?|Leslie H. Gelb|March 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST

He had followed two-hour workouts with the wrestling team by swimming laps for an hour and going on four-mile runs.
Nicolas Checque Slaying Part of Terrible Month for Navy SEALs in Afghanistan|Michael Daly|December 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Several women had arrived, who seated themselves round the room, laid their hands on their laps, and sighed.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
"It's eleven laps to the mile," supplemented Mrs. Kennedy with a smile.
The Sunbridge Girls at Six Star Ranch|Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter
So we honored her, and did not mind her being so heavy and walking up and down constantly on our laps as we drove home.
The Wouldbegoods|E. Nesbit
The cup is put over the pin at H, and also the socket, so that the pin passes through the holes in both laps.
Copper Work|Augustus F. Rose
When the design has been pierced or embossed, the laps can be bent over a piece of metal equal in thickness to that of the pad.
Copper Work|Augustus F. Rose

British Dictionary definitions for lap (1 of 3)

lap¹

/ (læp) /

noun

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

verb laps, lapping or lapped

(tr) to wrap or fold (around or over)he lapped a bandage around his wrist

(tr) to enclose or envelop inhe 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, etclapped 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

Derived forms of lap

lapper, noun

Word Origin for lap

C13 (in the sense: to wrap): probably from lap 1

British Dictionary definitions for lap (2 of 3)

lap²

/ (læp) /

verb laps, lapping or lapped

(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

noun

the act or sound of lapping

a thin food for dogs or other animals

Derived forms of lap

lapper, noun

Word Origin for lap

Old English lapian; related to Old High German laffan, Latin lambere, Greek laptein

British Dictionary definitions for lap (3 of 3)

lap³

/ (læp) /

noun

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 environmentin 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

Word Origin for lap

Old English læppa flap; see lobe, lappet, lop ²

Collins 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

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

lap

Origin of lap

Other definitions for lap (2 of 4)

Origin of lap

Other definitions for lap (3 of 4)

Origin of lap

Other definitions for lap (4 of 4)

Words related to lap

How to use lap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lap (1 of 3)

Derived forms of lap

Word Origin for lap

British Dictionary definitions for lap (2 of 3)

Derived forms of lap

Word Origin for lap

British Dictionary definitions for lap (3 of 3)

Word Origin for lap

Other Idioms and Phrases with lap