slap

¹

[slap]

noun

1. a gap or opening, as in a fence, wall, cloud bank, or line of troops.

2. a mountain pass.

3. a wound or gash.

verb (used with object)

slapped, slapping 

1. to make a gap or opening in; breach.

slap

²

[slap]

noun

1. a sharp blow or smack, especially with the open hand or with something flat.

2. a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack.

   the slap of the waves against the dock.

3. a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.

verb (used with object)

slapped, slapping 

1. to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or with something flat.

2. to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.

3. to dash or cast forcibly.

   He slapped the package against the wall.

4. to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often followed byon ).

   The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.

adverb

1. Informal.,  directly; straight; smack.

   The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.

verb phrase

1. slap down

   1. to subdue, especially by a blow or by force; suppress.

   2. to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply.

      to slap down dissenting voices.

slap

/ slæp /

noun

1. a sharp blow or smack, as with the open hand, something flat, etc

2. the sound made by or as if by such a blow

3. a sharp rebuke; reprimand

4. informal,  sexual play

5. an insult or rebuff

6. congratulation

7. a light punishment or reprimand

verb

1. (tr) to strike (a person or thing) sharply, as with the open hand or something flat

2. (tr) to bring down (the hand, something flat, etc) sharply

3. to strike (something) with or as if with a slap

4. informal,  (tr) to apply in large quantities, haphazardly, etc

   she slapped butter on the bread

5. to congratulate

adverb

1. exactly; directly

   slap on time

2. forcibly or abruptly

   to fall slap on the floor

Other Word Forms

• slapper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of slap¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English slop(e) “inroad made into enemy ranks,” from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; cognate with German Schlupf “hiding place”

Origin of slap²

First recorded in 1625–35; from Low German slapp(e); of expressive origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of slap¹

C17: from Low German slapp, German Schlappe, of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure.

   He got away with a slap on the wrist.

Synonym Study

See blow ¹.

Example Sentences

The sound of sandals slapping as porters jumped down from open doorways and the deep horn of departure instilled a sense of calm.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The first slap in the face with a wet fish came for crypto on Feb. 21.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The EU executive doesn't want the X probe to drag on for much longer and is expected to slap a fine before the end of the year.

Read more on Barron's

As part of Switzerland's direct democratic system, voters will also be weighing in on whether to slap new taxes on the super-rich to help finance the country's effort against climate change.

Read more on Barron's

Instead he sat at the post-match news conference as a winning skipper, literally slapping Head on the back.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• blip 
• blow 
• pat 
• punch 
• whack