tapping

[ tap-ing ]

/ ˈtæp ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tapping ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person or thing that taps or strikes lightly.

the sound produced by this.

Nearby words

tapotement, tappan, tappan zee, tapper, tappet, tapping, tapping up, tappit-hen, taproom, taproot, taps

Origin of tapping

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at tap¹, -ing¹

Definition for tapping (2 of 4)

tapping

[ tap-ing ]

/ ˈtæp ɪŋ /

noun

the act of tapping casks, telephone conversations, etc.

something that is drawn by tapping.

paracentesis.

Origin of tapping

First recorded in 1590–1600; tap² + -ing¹

Definition for tapping (3 of 4)

tap

[ tap ]

/ tæp /

verb (used with object), tapped, tap·ping.

to strike with a light but audible blow or blows; hit with repeated, slight blows: He tapped the door twice.

to make, put, etc., by tapping: to tap a nail into a wall.

to strike (the fingers, a foot, a pencil, etc.) upon or against something, especially with repeated light blows: Stop tapping your feet!

Basketball. to strike (a ball in the air) in the direction of a teammate or of the basket.

to enter information or produce copy by tapping on a keyboard: to tap data into a computer; to tap out a magazine article.

to add a thickness of leather to the sole or heel of (a boot or shoe), as in repairing.

verb (used without object), tapped, tap·ping.

to strike lightly but audibly, as to attract attention.

to strike light blows.

to tap-dance.

noun

a light but audible blow: a tap on the shoulder.

the sound made by this.

a piece of metal attached to the toe or heel of a shoe, as for reinforcement or for making the tapping of a dancer more audible.

Basketball. an act or instance of tapping the ball: Hanson got the tap from our center, who, 6prime;9″ tall, couldn't lose a jump ball.

a thickness of leather added to the sole or heel of a boot or shoe, as in repairing.

Origin of tap

1175–1225; (v.) Middle English tappen, variant of early Middle English teppen, probably imitative; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.

Related forms

tap·pa·ble, adjectiveun·tap·pa·ble, adjective

Definition for tapping (4 of 4)

tap

[ tap ]

/ tæp /

noun

a cylindrical stick, long plug, or stopper for closing an opening through which liquid is drawn, as in a cask; spigot.

a faucet or cock.

the liquor drawn through a particular tap.

British. a taphouse or taproom.

a tool for cutting screw threads into the cylindrical surface of a round opening.

Surgery. the withdrawal of fluid: spinal tap.

a hole made in tapping, as one in a pipe to furnish connection for a branch pipe.

Electricity. a connection brought out of a winding at some point between its extremities, for controlling the voltage ratio.

Informal. an act or instance of wiretapping.

Archaic. a particular kind or quality of drink.

verb (used with object), tapped, tap·ping.

to draw liquid from (a vessel or container).

to draw off (liquid) by removing or opening a tap or by piercing a container.

to draw the tap or plug from or pierce (a cask or other container).

to penetrate, open up, reach into, etc., for the purpose of using something or drawing something off; begin to use: to tap one's resources.

to connect into secretly so as to receive the message or signal being transmitted: to tap a telephone wire or telephone.

to furnish (a cask, container, pipe, etc.) with a tap.

to cut a screw thread into the surface of (an opening).

to open outlets from (power lines, highways, pipes, etc.).

Verb Phrases

tap into, Informal. to gain access to; become friendly with: The candidate tapped into some wealthy supporters.

tap off, to remove (liquid, molten metal, etc.) from a keg, furnace, or the like: to tap off slag from a blast furnace.

Origin of tap

before 1050; (noun) Middle English tappe, Old English tæppa; cognate with Dutch tap, Old High German zapfo, Old Norse tappi; (v.) Middle English tappen, Old English tæppian; cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch tappen, German zapfen, Old Norse tappa

Related forms

tap·pa·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tapping

I fall back into a dream and then suddenly there is a tapping on the window just above my bed.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Marabella, now licking her lollipop and tapping her foot, appears unfazed.
Even Grade School Kids Are Protesting the Garner Killing Now|Caitlin Dickson|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In large part Cho raised these funds by tapping into his own Asian American community.
Red Sweep? Maybe, but One Tea Party Incumbent Is in Trouble|Dean Obeidallah|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tapping into middle-class grievances with populist ideas on the economy is where Warren excels.
Square Deal, New Deal, and Now, From Hillary Clinton, a “Fair Shot”|Eleanor Clift|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The “tapping” mechanism is similar, like tapping someone on the shoulder via the Internet.
Bigger, Bolder, and Better Than Ever: Steve Jobs Would Be Proud of Today's Apple|Kyle Chayka|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As it was, she waited impatiently, tapping the corner of the desk with her idle pencil.
Baby Mine|Margaret Mayo
The next day it was pretty cold, and the first thing I heard when I went into the kitchen was a tapping at the window-pane.
Our Little Ones and The Nursery, Vol. V, No. 9, July 1885|Various
The spray near the window had ceased its tapping against the shutter, and was listening too.
The Danvers Jewels, and Sir Charles Danvers|Mary Cholmondeley
She was sitting on the bed, pretty and dainty, and was tapping her foot lightly on the floor.
Concerning Sally|William John Hopkins
As he passed the wire machine it was tapping out, with a maddeningly methodical slowness, the story of the fall of London.
Hellhounds of the Cosmos|Clifford Donald Simak

British Dictionary definitions for tapping (1 of 3)

tap

/ (tæp) /

verb taps, tapping or tapped

to strike (something) lightly and usually repeatedlyto tap the table; to tap on the table

(tr) to produce by striking in this wayto tap a rhythm

(tr) to strike lightly with (something)to tap one's finger on the desk

(intr) to walk with a tapping soundshe tapped across the floor

(tr) to attach metal or leather reinforcing pieces to (the toe or heel of a shoe)

noun

a light blow or knock, or the sound made by it

the metal piece attached to the toe or heel of a shoe used for tap-dancing

short for tap-dancingSee tap-dancing

phonetics the contact made between the tip of the tongue and the alveolar ridge as the tongue is flicked upwards in the execution of a flap or vibrates rapidly in the execution of a trill or roll

Derived Forms

tappable, adjective

Word Origin for tap

C13 tappen, probably from Old French taper, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German tappen to pluck, Swedish dialect täpa to tap

British Dictionary definitions for tapping (2 of 3)

tap

/ (tæp) /

noun

a valve by which a fluid flow from a pipe can be controlled by opening and closing an orificeUS and Canadian name: faucet

a stopper to plug a cask or barrel and enable the contents to be drawn out in a controlled flow

a particular quality of alcoholic drink, esp when contained in casksan excellent tap

British short for taproom

the surgical withdrawal of fluid from a bodily cavitya spinal tap

Also called: screw tap a tool for cutting female screw threads, consisting of a threaded steel cylinder with longitudinal grooves forming cutting edgesCompare die 2 (def. 2)

electronics, mainly US and Canadian a connection made at some point between the end terminals of an inductor, resistor, or some other componentUsual Brit name: tapping

stock exchange

an issue of a government security released slowly onto the market when its market price reaches a predetermined level
(as modifier)tap stock; tap issue

a concealed listening or recording device connected to a telephone or telegraph wire for the purpose of obtaining information secretly

on tap

informal ready for immediate use
(of drinks) on draught

verb taps, tapping or tapped (tr)

to furnish with a tap

to draw off with or as if with a tap

to cut into (a tree) and draw off sap from it

British informal to ask or beg (someone) for moneyhe tapped me for a fiver

to connect a tap to (a telephone or telegraph wire)
to listen in secret to (a telephone message, etc) by means of a tap

to make a connection to (a pipe, drain, etc)

to cut a female screw thread in (an object or material) by use of a tap

to withdraw (fluid) from (a bodily cavity)

informal (of a sports team or an employer) to make an illicit attempt to recruit (a player or employee bound by an existing contract)

Derived Forms

tappable, adjective

Word Origin for tap

Old English tæppa; related to Old Norse tappi tap, Old High German zapfo

British Dictionary definitions for tapping (3 of 3)

tap

/ (tæp) /

noun, verb

a Scot word for top 1

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

Medicine definitions for tapping

tap

[ tăp ]

n.

The removal of fluid from a body cavity.

v.

To withdraw fluid from a body cavity, as with a trocar and cannula, hollow needle, or catheter.

To strike lightly with the finger or a hammerlike instrument, as in percussion or to elicit a tendon reflex.

Idioms and Phrases with tapping

tap

see on tap.