taps

American  

[taps] / tæps /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. 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.

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taps British  

/ tæps /

noun

1. 1. (in army camps, etc) a signal given on a bugle, drum, etc, indicating that lights are to be put out

   2. any similar signal, as at a military funeral

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

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Etymology

Origin of taps

1815–25, probably tap(too) , variant of tattoo ¹ + -s ³

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

taps

Activists say the dispute taps into a much older question of who has rights to the land surrounding Kaziranga park.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Todd Montgomery pops the lid off a small tube and taps out hundreds of mosquitoes into the backyard of a suburban home outside Washington.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

The space taps into the brand’s chic, feminine energy, showcasing floral-print furniture and blending romantic, vintage-inspired designs with contemporary touches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

So maybe she doesn’t quite regain her magic but taps into a new version of it.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

The man taps the screen a couple more times.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston