tapping

¹ American  

[tap-ing] / ˈtæp ɪŋ /

noun

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

2. the sound produced by this.

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tapping ² American  

[tap-ing] / ˈtæp ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of tapping casks, telephone conversations, etc.

2. something that is drawn by tapping.

3. paracentesis.

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Etymology

Origin of tapping¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at tap ¹, -ing ¹

Origin of tapping²

First recorded in 1590–1600; tap ² + -ing ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tapping

“I think we’re really tapping into that desire to be hyperlocal, hyper-real and connected.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

I traipsed down corridors full of smart young people tapping away at their computers, seemingly doing things.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

At Thatcham Research's headquarters, we are shown a device hidden within a wireless speaker that can start a car by tapping into its internal communication system.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

We meet Mona in media res, nervously tapping her shoes on the carpeted lobby floor and fretting over her audition.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

Maya-Jade had taken to wearing a pencil behind her ear to take notes, and now she took it out and scratched something down before tapping the pencil against her chin.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

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