slap

¹ American  

[slap] / slæp /

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.

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verb (used with object)

slapped, slapping

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

slap ² American  

[slap] / slæp /

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.

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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.

idioms

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

   He got away with a slap on the wrist.

slap British  

/ 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

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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

Related Words

See blow ¹.

Other Word Forms

• slapper noun

Etymology

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 slap¹

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

Example Sentences

Self-proclaimed Parrot Heads—who still slap stickers on the building and leave flip-flops, salt shakers and other assorted memorabilia outside as a shrine to sunny good times—want instead to memorialize the studio forever.

From The Wall Street Journal

Senior defensive tackle Zxavian Harris called it a “slap in the face,” adding that Kiffin was “just trying to steal our shine. That’s all he’s been trying to do is steal our shine.”

From Los Angeles Times

Upholstered wooden products, things like sofas and armchairs, were to be slapped with a 30% tariff.

From The Wall Street Journal

Instead, they got a slap in the face.

From Los Angeles Times

International Cricket Council referee Jeff Crowe is yet to deliver his assessment of the pitch, which if handed an "unsatisfactory" rating would see the venue slapped with a demerit point.

From Barron's

Related Words

• blip
• blow
• pat
• punch
• whack