taps

[ taps ]

/ tæps /

noun (used with a singular or plural verb) Military.

a signal by bugle or drum, sounded at night as an order to extinguish all lights, and sometimes performed as a postlude to a military funeral.

Nearby words

Origin of taps

1815–25, Americanism; probably tap(too), variant of tattoo¹ + -s³

Definition for taps (2 of 3)

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

Definition for taps (3 of 3)

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 formstap·pa·ble, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for taps

Twin buglers played “Taps” and three police helicopters flew overhead in the missing-man formation.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Tosi has been using cereal milk as a flavor ever since 2007, and she says it taps into a universal “memory sensor.”
Cereal Cafe’s Big Bowl of Hate|David Levesley|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
More than 15,000 households have had their taps turned off for being past due.
Detroit Shuts Off Water to Residents but Not to Businesses Who Owe Millions|Mary M. Chapman|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Likely, The Woodman taps the facilities of a much larger, more-specialized operation like Loyalsock Firewood in Montoursville.
Brooklyn’s Booming Firewood Industry|Dale Eisinger|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Two taps and a fast dart later, it was in the back of the net.
Uruguay’s Luis Suárez Puts Two Stakes Through England’s Heart|Tunku Varadarajan|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What's the meaning of all these cattle outside, and the taps running, and the smoke up yonder on the hill?
The Mayor of Troy|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Then Hans, as a result of his previous instruction (so Mr. von Osten thought) would give two taps at sight of the pins.
Clever Hans|Oskar Pfungst
Sitting around upon the army cots or chests, the soldiers will discuss some unimportant topic until “taps” sounds.
The Great White Tribe in Filipinia|Paul T. Gilbert
At taps you must have your bed made, and get into it at once.
Uncle Sam's Boys in the Ranks|H. Irving Hancock
Instead, it was Red who, to his vast surprise, received the lightest of taps on the tip of his chin.
The Shadow Passes|Roy J. Snell

British Dictionary definitions for taps (1 of 4)

taps

/ (tæps) /

noun (functioning as singular)

mainly US

(in army camps, etc) a signal given on a bugle, drum, etc, indicating that lights are to be put out
any similar signal, as at a military funeral

(in the Guide movement) a closing song sung at an evening camp fire or at the end of a meeting

Word Origin for taps

C19: from tap 1

British Dictionary definitions for taps (2 of 4)

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

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 taps (3 of 4)

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 Formstappable, adjective

Word Origin for tap

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

British Dictionary definitions for taps (4 of 4)

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

Word Origin and History for taps (1 of 6)

taps

U.S. military signal for lights out in soldiers' quarters (played 15 minutes after tattoo), 1824, from tap (v.), on the notion of drum taps (it originally was played on a drum, later on a bugle). As a soldier's last farewell, played over his grave, it may date to the American Civil War. The tune was revised several times in mid-19c.

Word Origin and History for taps (1 of 6)

tap

v.1

"strike lightly," c.1200, from Old French taper "tap, rap, strike," from a Gallo-Romance or Germanic source ultimately imitative of the sound of rapping. Meaning "to designate for some duty or for membership" is recorded from 1952, from notion of a tap on the shoulder. Related: Tapped; tapping.

Word Origin and History for taps (2 of 6)

tap

n.1

"stopper, faucet," Old English tæppa, from Proto-Germanic *tappon (cf. Middle Dutch tappe, Dutch tap, Old High German zapfo, German zapfen). Originally a tapering cylindrical peg (hence taproot). Phrase on tap "ready for use" is recorded from late 15c.

Word Origin and History for taps (3 of 6)

tap

v.2

"to supply with a tap," Old English tæppian, from source of tap (n.1). Meaning "to draw liquor with a tap" is from mid-15c. Extended sense of "make use of" is first recorded 1570s. Meaning "to listen in secretly" (1869), originally with reference to telegraph wires. Tapped out "broke" is 1940s slang, perhaps from the notion of having tapped all one's acquaintances for loans already (cf. British slang on the tap "begging, making requests for loans," 1932).

Word Origin and History for taps (4 of 6)

tap

n.2

"light blow or stroke," late 14c., from tap (v.1). Tap dancer first recorded 1927, from tap (n.) in the sense of "metal plate over the heel of a shoe" (1680s).

Word Origin and History for taps (5 of 6)

tap

n.3

"device to listen in secretly on telephone calls," 1923, from tap (v.2) in the "listen secretly" sense.

Medicine definitions for taps

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 taps

tap

see on tap.

taps

noun (used with a singular or plural verb) Military.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of taps

Definition for taps (2 of 3)

tap

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

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

noun

Origin of tap

Definition for taps (3 of 3)

tap

noun

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

Verb Phrases

Origin of tap

Examples from the Web for taps

British Dictionary definitions for taps (1 of 4)

taps

noun (functioning as singular)

Word Origin for taps

British Dictionary definitions for taps (2 of 4)

tap

verb taps, tapping or tapped

noun

Word Origin for tap

British Dictionary definitions for taps (3 of 4)

tap

noun

verb taps, tapping or tapped (tr)

Word Origin for tap

British Dictionary definitions for taps (4 of 4)

tap

noun, verb

Word Origin and History for taps (1 of 6)

taps

Word Origin and History for taps (1 of 6)

tap

Word Origin and History for taps (2 of 6)

tap

Word Origin and History for taps (3 of 6)

tap

Word Origin and History for taps (4 of 6)

tap

Word Origin and History for taps (5 of 6)

tap

Medicine definitions for taps

tap

n.

v.

Idioms and Phrases with taps

tap