definitions

nap

1
[ nap ]
/ næp /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nap ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), napped, nap·ping.

to sleep for a short time; doze.
to be off one's guard: The question caught him napping.

verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.

to sleep or doze through (a period of time, an activity, etc.) (usually followed by away): I napped the afternoon away. He naps away most of his classes.

noun

a brief period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime: Has the baby had her nap?

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RELATED WORDS

intermission, pause, nod, catnap, spot, rest, interlude, break, doze, respite, shuteye, siesta, snooze, wale, fiber, grit, feel, warp, roughness, down

Nearby words

nanua, nanus, naoise, naomi, naos, nap, napa, napaeae, napalm, napata, nape

Origin of nap

1
before 900; Middle English nappen (v.), nap (noun), Old English hnappian to sleep; cognate with Middle High German napfen

Definition for nap (2 of 5)

nap

2
[ nap ]
/ næp /

noun

the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping.
any downy coating, as on plants.

verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.

to raise a nap on.

Origin of nap

2
1400–50; late Middle English noppe, Old English -hnoppa (as in wullknoppa, mistake for *wullhnoppa tuft of wool), cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German noppe; akin to Old English hnoppian to pluck

Related forms

nap·less, adjectivenap·less·ness, noun

Definition for nap (3 of 5)

nap

3
[ nap ]
/ næp /

noun

napoleon(defs 2, 3).

Origin of nap

3
shortened form

Definition for nap (4 of 5)

-nap

a combining form extracted from kidnap, with the general sense “abduct or steal in order to collect a ransom”: artnap; petnap; starnap.

Definition for nap (5 of 5)

Lajoie

[ lash-uh-wey ]
/ ˈlæʃ əˌweɪ /

noun

NapoleonNap, 1875–1959, U.S. baseball player.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nap

British Dictionary definitions for nap (1 of 3)

nap

1
/ (næp) /

verb naps, napping or napped (intr)

to sleep for a short while; doze
to be unaware or inattentive; be off guard (esp in the phrase catch someone napping)

noun

a short light sleep; doze

Word Origin for nap

Old English hnappian; related to Middle High German napfen

British Dictionary definitions for nap (2 of 3)

nap

2
/ (næp) /

noun

  1. the raised fibres of velvet or similar cloth
  2. the direction in which these fibres lie when smoothed down
any similar downy coating
Australian informal blankets, bedding

verb naps, napping or napped

(tr) to raise the nap of (cloth, esp velvet) by brushing or similar treatment

Word Origin for nap

C15: probably from Middle Dutch noppe; related to Old English hnoppian to pluck

British Dictionary definitions for nap (3 of 3)

nap

3
/ (næp) /

noun

verb naps, napping or napped

(tr) horse racing to name (a horse) as likely to win a race

Word Origin for nap

C19: short for napoleon, the original name of the card game
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