rap
1- to strike, especially with a quick, smart, or light blow: He rapped the door with his cane.
- to utter sharply or vigorously: to rap out a command.
- (of a spirit summoned by a medium) to communicate (a message) by raps (often followed by out).
- Slang. to criticize sharply: Critics could hardly wait to rap the play.
- Slang. to arrest, detain, or sentence for a crime.
- Metallurgy. to jar (a pattern) loose from a sand mold.
- to knock smartly or lightly, especially so as to make a noise: to rap on a door.
- Slang. to talk or discuss, especially freely, openly, or volubly; chat.
- Slang. to talk rhythmically to the beat of rap music.
- a quick, smart, or light blow: a rap on the knuckles with a ruler.
- the sound produced by such a blow: They heard a loud rap at the door.
- Slang. blame or punishment, especially for a crime.
- Slang. a criminal charge: a murder rap.
- Slang. response, reception, or judgment: The product has been getting a very bad rap.
- Slang.
- a talk, conversation, or discussion; chat.
- talk designed to impress, convince, etc.; spiel: a high-pressure sales rap.
- rap music.
- beat the rap, Slang. to succeed in evading the penalty for a crime; be acquitted: The defendant calmly insisted that he would beat the rap.
- take the rap, Slang. to take the blame and punishment for a crime committed by another: He took the rap for the burglary.
Origin of rap
1rap
2- the least bit: I don't care a rap.
- a counterfeit halfpenny formerly passed in Ireland.
Origin of rap
2rap
3- to carry off; transport.
- to transport with rapture.
- to seize for oneself; snatch.
Origin of rap
3Related Words for rap
knock, scold, blow, lick, tap, beat, swipe, swat, crack, strike, pat, conk, whack, conference, dialogue, confabulation, deliberation, discussion, yarn, discourseExamples from the Web for rap
Contemporary Examples of rap
And there are those who still have misgivings about exactly what “Christian rap” means.
They joined forces to form the rap supergroup Run the Jewels.
The 10 Best Albums of 2014: Taylor Swift, Sia, Run the Jewels, and MoreMarlow Stern
December 28, 2014
If Kendrick Lamar is the future of rap, then the future is bright.
Kendrick Lamar Shuts Down ‘The Colbert Report’ with Untitled TrackCharlise Ferguson
December 17, 2014
This cd be the kind of thing where somebody has to resign [and] take the rap.
How the Reagan White House Bungled Its Response to Iran-Contra RevelationsMalcolm Byrne
November 3, 2014
Is the art of the Nicki Minaj-style rap something you knew ahead of time that you were a baller at?
How Aidy Bryant Stealthily Became Your Favorite ‘Saturday Night Live’ StarKevin Fallon
October 31, 2014
Historical Examples of rap
I had to rap a second time before Molly Wemple appeared to let me in.
In the ValleyHarold Frederic
Another spends all he can rap and run on his belly, to be the more hungry after it.
The Praise of FollyDesiderius Erasmus
It's been a bad year—worse than the last one, which wasn't worth a rap.
His MasterpieceEmile Zola
There are some consecrated reputations which I wouldn't give a rap for.
His MasterpieceEmile Zola
Gervaise now shuffled along in her slippers, without caring a rap for anyone.
L'AssommoirEmile Zola
rap
1- to strike (a fist, stick, etc) against (something) with a sharp quick blow; knockhe rapped at the door
- (intr) to make a sharp loud sound, esp by knocking
- (tr) to rebuke or criticize sharply
- (tr foll by out) to put (forth) in sharp rapid speech; utter in an abrupt fashionto rap out orders
- (intr) slang to talk, esp volubly
- (intr) to perform a rhythmic monologue with a musical backing
- rap over the knuckles to reprimand
- a sharp quick blow or the sound produced by such a blow
- a sharp rebuke or criticism
- slang voluble talk; chatterstop your rap
- a fast, rhythmic monologue over a prerecorded instrumental track
- (as modifier)rap music
- slang a legal charge or case
- beat the rap US and Canadian slang to escape punishment or be acquitted of a crime
- take the rap slang to suffer the consequences of a mistake, misdeed, or crime, whether guilty or not
Word Origin for rap
rap
2- (used with a negative) the least amount (esp in the phrase not to care a rap)
Word Origin for rap
rap
3- Australian informal a variant spelling of wrap (def. 8), wrap (def. 14)
Word Origin and History for rap
c.1300, "a quick, light blow, stroke," also "a fart" (late 15c.), native or borrowed from a Scandinavian source (cf. Danish rap, Swedish rapp "light blow"); either way probably of imitative origin (cf. slap, clap).
Slang meaning "rebuke, blame, responsibility" is from 1777; specific meaning "criminal indictment" (cf. rap sheet, 1960) is from 1903. To beat the rap is from 1927. Meaning "music with improvised words" first in New York City slang, 1979 (see rap (v.2)).
mid-14c., "strike, smite, knock," from rap (n.). Related: Rapped; rapping. To rap (someone's) knuckles "give light punishment" is from 1749. Related: Rapped; rapping.
"talk informally, chat," 1929, popularized c.1965 in Black English, possibly first in Caribbean English and from British slang meaning "say, utter" (1879), originally "to utter a sudden oath" (1540s), ultimately from rap (n.). As a noun in this sense from 1898. Meaning "to perform rap music" is recorded by 1979. Related: Rapped; rapping.
rap
A form of pop music characterized by spoken or chanted rhymed lyrics, with a syncopated, repetitive accompaniment. Rap music originated in the second half of the twentieth century in black urban communities. (See also hip-hop.)
Idioms and Phrases with rap
rap
In addition to the idiom beginning with rap
- rap someone's knuckles
also see:
- beat the rap
- bum rap
- not give a damn (rap)
- take the rap