sap

[ sap ]

noun

the juice or vital circulating fluid of a plant, especially of a woody plant.
any vital body fluid.

energy; vitality.
sapwood.
Slang. a fool; sucker; dupe.
Metallurgy. soft metal at the core of a bar of blister steel.

verb (used with object),sapped, sap·ping.

to drain the sap from.

Origin of sap

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sæp; cognate with Dutch sap; akin to German Saft juice, Old Norse safi; in def. 5 a shortening of saphead

Other definitions for sap (2 of 4)

sap²

[ sap ]

noun

Fortification. a deep, narrow trench constructed so as to form an approach to a besieged place or an enemy's position.

verb (used with object),sapped, sap·ping.

to undermine; gradually or insidiously weaken or destroy.
Fortification.
- to approach (a besieged place or an enemy position) by means of deep, narrow trenches protected by gabions or parapets.
- to dig such trenches in (ground).

verb (used without object),sapped, sap·ping.

Fortification. to dig a sap.

Origin of sap

First recorded in 1585–95; from French noun sape “spade, spadework,” derivative of saper “to dig a trench,” from Italian zappare “to undermine,” a military term, based on zappa “hoe”

Other words for sap

2	deplete, drain, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, impair, tire, weaken; undermine

See synonyms for sap on Thesaurus.com

Other definitions for sap (3 of 4)

sap³

[ sap ]

noun

a short club with a heavy tip that is used as a weapon; blackjack; bludgeon: The burglar carried a set of lockpicks and a sap.

verb (used with object)

to hit (someone) with a club: If he tries to sneak out, I'll sap him over the head.

Origin of sap

First recorded in 1895–1900; perhaps shortening of sapling or sapwood (used as a tool or weapon)

Other definitions for s. ap. (4 of 4)

s. ap.

abbreviation

apothecaries' scruple; apothecaries' scruples.

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

British Dictionary definitions for sap (1 of 4)

sap¹

/ (sæp) /

noun

a solution of mineral salts, sugars, etc, that circulates in a plant
any vital body fluid

energy; vigour
slang a gullible or foolish person
another name for sapwood

verbsaps, sapping or sapped (tr)

to drain of sap

Origin of sap

Old English sæp; related to Old High German sapf, German Saft juice, Middle Low German sapp, Sanskrit sabar milk juice

Derived forms of sap

sapless, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for sap (2 of 4)

sap²

/ (sæp) /

noun

a deep and narrow trench used to approach or undermine an enemy position, esp in siege warfare

verbsaps, sapping or sapped

to undermine (a fortification, etc) by digging saps
(tr) to weaken

Origin of sap

C16 zappe, from Italian zappa spade, of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old Italian (dialect) zappo a goat

British Dictionary definitions for SAP (3 of 4)

SAP¹

abbreviation for

South African Police

British Dictionary definitions for SAP (4 of 4)

SAP²

/ (sæp) /

n acronym for(in Britain)

Standard Assessment Procedure, the recognized performance indicator for measuring energy efficiency in buildings

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

Scientific definitions for sap

sap

[ săp ]

The watery fluid that circulates through a plant that has vascular tissues. Sap moving up the xylem carries water and minerals, while sap moving down the phloem carries water and food.

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