SLAP (slapped, slapping)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: slapped    , slapping   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does slap mean? 

• SLAP (noun)
  The noun SLAP has 2 senses:

1. a blow from a flat object (as an open hand)

2. the act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand

  Familiarity information: SLAP used as a noun is rare.

• SLAP (verb)
  The verb SLAP has 1 sense:

1. hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand

  Familiarity information: SLAP used as a verb is very rare.

• SLAP (adverb)
  The adverb SLAP has 1 sense:

1. directly

  Familiarity information: SLAP used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SLAP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A blow from a flat object (as an open hand)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

slap; smack

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

blow; bump (an impact (as from a collision))

Derivation:

slap (hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

slap; smack; smacking

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

blow (a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon)

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

spank (a slap with the flat of the hand)

Derivation:

slap (hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand)

• SLAP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they slap    ... he / she / it slaps   
Past simple: slapped   
Past participle: slapped   
-ing form: slapping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

a gunshot slapped him on the forehead

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

strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)

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

cuff; whomp (hit with the hand)

Sentence frames:

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

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to slap his opponent

Derivation:

slap (the act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand)

slap (a blow from a flat object (as an open hand))

slapper (a hitter who slaps (usually another person) with an open hand)

• SLAP (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Directly

Synonyms:

bang; bolt; slap; slapdash; smack

Context example:

ran slap into her

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

 Context examples 

He slapped it down upon the table in front of him.

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

You just take my orders, Cap'n Hawkins, and we'll sail slap in and be done with it.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Van Helsing slapped him on the shoulder. "Come!" he said.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“He has never said a word to me about it. He knows better. If he was to make so bold as say a word to me, I should slap his face.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“We got alongside and slapped it in through their port-holes until they struck their colours. But where have you been, Sir Cuthbert?”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Ay, ay!" was the answer: the door was slapped to, a voice exclaimed "All right," and on we drove.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"Then it is settled," said Lord John, and turning to the chief he nodded and slapped his rifle.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It looks like a "slapped cheek."

(Fifth Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

There were swift commands on deck, a stamping of feet and a slapping of reef-points as the Ghost shot into the wind and about on the other tack.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The only way to insult him is to take a slap at Haeckel.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)