LAP (lapped, lapping)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lap mean? 

• LAP (noun)
  The noun LAP has 6 senses:

1. the upper side of the thighs of a seated person

2. an area of control or responsibility

3. the part of a piece of clothing that covers the thighs

4. a flap that lies over another part

5. movement once around a course

6. touching with the tongue

  Familiarity information: LAP used as a noun is common.

• LAP (verb)
  The verb LAP has 5 senses:

1. lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another

2. pass the tongue over

3. move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound

4. take up with the tongue

5. wash or flow against

  Familiarity information: LAP used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LAP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The upper side of the thighs of a seated person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Context example:

he picked up the little girl and plopped her down in his lap

Hypernyms ("lap" is a kind of...):

thigh (the part of the leg between the hip and the knee)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An area of control or responsibility

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

the job fell right in my lap

Hypernyms ("lap" is a kind of...):

area; arena; domain; field; orbit; sphere (a particular environment or walk of life)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lap"):

lap of the gods (beyond human control or responsibility)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The part of a piece of clothing that covers the thighs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

lap; lap covering

Context example:

his lap was covered with food stains

Hypernyms ("lap" is a kind of...):

cloth covering (a covering made of cloth)

Holonyms ("lap" is a part of...):

skirt (cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist)

pair of trousers; pant; trousers ((usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A flap that lies over another part

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

lap; overlap

Context example:

the lap of the shingles should be at least ten inches

Hypernyms ("lap" is a kind of...):

flap (any broad thin and limber covering attached at one edge; hangs loose or projects freely)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lap"):

cuff; turnup (the lap consisting of a turned-back hem encircling the end of the sleeve or leg)

lapel (lap at the front of a coat; continuation of the coat collar)

lappet (a small lap on a garment or headdress)

Derivation:

lap (lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Movement once around a course

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

circle; circuit; lap

Context example:

he drove an extra lap just for insurance

Hypernyms ("lap" is a kind of...):

locomotion; travel (self-propelled movement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lap"):

pace lap (the first lap of a car race that prepares the cars for a fast start)

lap of honour; victory lap (a lap by the winning person or team run to celebrate the victory)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Touching with the tongue

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

lap; lick

Context example:

the dog's laps were warm and wet

Hypernyms ("lap" is a kind of...):

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

Derivation:

lap (take up with the tongue)

lap (pass the tongue over)

• LAP (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "lap" is one way to...):

lie (be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

lap (a flap that lies over another part)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pass the tongue over

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

lap; lick

Context example:

the dog licked her hand

Hypernyms (to "lap" is one way to...):

stroke (touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lap"):

tongue (lick or explore with the tongue)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

lap (touching with the tongue)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

lap; swish; swoosh; swosh

Context example:

The curtain swooshed open

Hypernyms (to "lap" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Take up with the tongue

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

lap; lap up; lick

Context example:

the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast

Hypernyms (to "lap" is one way to...):

drink; imbibe (take in liquids)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

lap (touching with the tongue)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Wash or flow against

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

lap; lave; wash

Context example:

the waves laved the shore

Hypernyms (to "lap" is one way to...):

flow (cover or swamp with water)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

 Context examples 

Some were lying down with heads raised and ears pricked forward; others stood on their feet, watching him; and still others were lapping water from the pool.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Mina's report still the same: lapping waves and rushing water, darkness and favouring winds.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Dora and I were sitting on the sofa by and by, quiet enough, and Jip was lying in her lap, winking peacefully at me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Jo could not speak, and for several minutes there was no sound but the sigh of the wind and the lapping of the tide.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Holmes threw the reins into my lap and sprang down from the cart.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In addition, b-lap induces expression of the checkpoints activator E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) and thereby activates the E2F1-mediated checkpoint pathway that directly triggers apoptosis.

(Beta-lapachone Prodrug ARQ 761, NCI Thesaurus)

On his lap he had a little pile of gold and of silver, which he was dropping, coin by coin, into a plump pouch which hung from his girdle.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This up, up, down, down pattern repeats every time Naiad gains four laps on Thalassa.

(NASA Finds Neptune Moons Locked in 'Dance of Avoidance', NASA)

Then he sat himself down, and said, “I am very much tired; sit by me, I will rest my head in your lap, and sleep a while.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)