Showing results for "rap"

• a variation of rap music.

rap

¹ American  

[rap] / ræp /

verb (used with object)

rapped, rapping

1. to strike, especially with a quick, smart, or light blow.

   He rapped the door with his cane.

2. to utter sharply or vigorously.

   to rap out a command.

3. (of a spirit summoned by a medium) to communicate (a message) by raps (often followed byout ).

4. Slang. to criticize sharply.

   Critics could hardly wait to rap the play.

5. Slang. to arrest, detain, or sentence for a crime.

6. Metallurgy. to jar (a pattern) loose from a sand mold.

---

verb (used without object)

rapped, rapping

1. to knock smartly or lightly, especially so as to make a noise.

   to rap on a door.

2. Slang. to talk or discuss, especially freely, openly, or volubly; chat.

3. Slang. to talk rhythmically to the beat of rap music.

noun

1. a quick, smart, or light blow.

   a rap on the knuckles with a ruler.

2. the sound produced by such a blow.

   They heard a loud rap at the door.

3. Slang. blame or punishment, especially for a crime.

4. Slang. a criminal charge.

   a murder rap.

5. Slang. response, reception, or judgment.

   The product has been getting a very bad rap.

6. Slang.

   1. a talk, conversation, or discussion; chat.

   2. talk designed to impress, convince, etc.; spiel.

      a high-pressure sales rap.

7. rap music.

idioms

1. take the rap, to take the blame and punishment for a crime committed by another.

   He took the rap for the burglary.

2. beat the rap, to succeed in evading the penalty for a crime; be acquitted.

   The defendant calmly insisted that he would beat the rap.

rap ² American  

[rap] / ræp /

noun

1. the least bit; the smallest amount; jot; iota.

   I don't care a rap.

2. a counterfeit halfpenny formerly passed in Ireland.

---

rap ³ American  

[rap] / ræp /

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

rapped, rapt, rapping

1. to carry off; transport.

2. to transport with rapture.

3. to seize for oneself; snatch.

---

rap ¹ British  

/ ræp /

verb

1. to strike (a fist, stick, etc) against (something) with a sharp quick blow; knock

   he rapped at the door

2. (intr) to make a sharp loud sound, esp by knocking

3. (tr) to rebuke or criticize sharply

4. to put (forth) in sharp rapid speech; utter in an abrupt fashion

   to rap out orders

5. slang (intr) to talk, esp volubly

6. (intr) to perform a rhythmic monologue with a musical backing

7. to reprimand

---

noun

1. a sharp quick blow or the sound produced by such a blow

2. a sharp rebuke or criticism

3. slang voluble talk; chatter

   stop your rap

4. 1. a fast, rhythmic monologue over a prerecorded instrumental track

   2. ( as modifier )

      rap music

5. slang a legal charge or case

6. slang to escape punishment or be acquitted of a crime

7. slang to suffer the consequences of a mistake, misdeed, or crime, whether guilty or not

rap ² British  

/ ræp /

verb

1. informal a variant spelling of wrap wrap

---

rap ³ British  

/ ræp /

noun

1. (used with a negative) the least amount (esp in the phrase not to care a rap )

---

rap Cultural  

1. 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.)

---

rap More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing rap

• beat the rap
• bum rap
• not give a damn (rap)
• take the rap

---

Other Word Forms

• rapping
  noun

---

Etymology

Origin of rap¹

First recorded in 1300–50; 1960–65 rap ¹ for def. 8; Middle English verb rappen; akin to Swedish rappa “to beat, drub,” German rappeln “to rattle”; the senses “to talk” and “conversation, talk” are perhaps of distinct origin, though the hypothesis that these meanings are a shortening of repartee is questionable

Origin of rap²

First recorded in 1715–25; origin uncertain

Origin of rap³

First recorded in 1520–30; back formation from rapt

---

Explanation

To rap is to hit something, talk, or bust into rhymes like the Fat Boys in the rap song “Human Beat Box” (1984). That’s some old school Brooklyn rap, but you can rap to any beat you want. Hit it! A rap is a knock or blow, like if you rap somebody upside the head as a gentle reminder to pay attention. The word rap also means, "reputation,” like if you get a bad rap at school for sleeping in class. It’s also "to talk at great length." And there’s the musical rap, the “genre that includes talking rhythmically over a beat.” This meaning comes from African American slang for, basically, "talking.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rap rapped rapping rapt

The company says UK rap is "one of the country's most influential and fast-moving music scenes" and the chart will celebrate both established names and the next generation of rappers driving the scene.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

British Vogue noted after the appointment that Rose counts Rihanna and Timothee Chalamet as fans, and that rap star Kendrick Lamar wore a custom-made jacket for his wildly popular Super Bowl halftime performance last year.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

Cardi, however, became the first woman in history to win the Grammy Award for best rap album as a solo artist.

From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2026

Donna Tryfman, a Democratic friend of Manouchehri, thinks she has gotten a bad rap.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

The whole room felt as stiff as he looked, until a rap at the door shook things up.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye

“I said no to the Super Bowl,” he rapped in 2018.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

His one pop hit, “Loser,” was built upon a slide-guitar riff and a breakbeat; verses were rapped; and the chorus, a mix of English and Spanish, was a singalong rock anthem.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

The artist reached out to the crowd as he rapped in Spanish, fans jumping and raising their phones to take pictures and document the moment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Professor X and No Words provided genuine moments of joy for the star, who grinned throughout as the London audience rapped along and in some instances, screamed a bit too.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026

His fingers rapped against the wooden top of the podium.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia

But we weren’t thinking about making hip-hop beats and rapping 30 years later.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

"We were playing instruments, they were rapping and playing their instruments," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Drug testing officials, rapping on the hotel doors of Pogacar and rival Jonas Vingegaard, in the middle of the night, deep REM time, reportedly with permission from a French judge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Even megastar Bruno Mars joins in on the fun, gamely rapping the cowbell on “Never Wanna Lose You.”

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

Little kids, old people, the men standing, rapping, gabbing on the corner.

From "Ghost Boys" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Klena had performed to rapt audiences, but nothing like this insanity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Was he too rapt by his proximity to the most powerful man in the world?

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

It's now 24 years since Rhona Martin delivered the Stone of Destiny in Salt Lake City, watched by millions of rapt viewers at dark o'clock in the UK.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

Manuel Alarcon, her father, was seated in the crowd, clasping his hands in rapt attention.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2026

I stared at it with no less rapt attention than if it had been God Himself in a golden chariot riding overhead.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• knock
• scold

---