1. n. A tapering cylindrical pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask; a spigot.
2. n. A device used to dispense liquids.
We don't have bottled water; you'll have to get it from the tap.
3. n. Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor.
a liquor of the same tap
4. n. A place where liquor is drawn for drinking; a taproom; a bar.
5. n. (mechanics) A device used to cut an internal screw thread. (External screw threads are cut with a die.)
We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve's thread.
6. n. A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it.
The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill-advised taps along its length.
7. n. An interception of communication by authority.
8. n. A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls.
9. n. (medicine, informal) A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity; paracentesis.
abdominal tap, pleural tap, spinal tap
10. v. To furnish with taps.
If we tap the maple trees, we can get maple syrup!
11. v. To draw off liquid from a vessel.
He tapped a new barrel of beer.
12. v. To deplete, especially of a liquid via a tap; to tap out.
13. v. To exploit.
Businesses are trying to tap the youth market.
14. v. To place a listening or recording device on a telephone or wired connection.
They can't tap the phone without a warrant.
15. v. To intercept a communication without authority.
He was known to tap cable television
16. v. (mechanical) To cut an internal screw thread.
Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.
17. v. (card games, board games) To turn or flip a card or playing piece to remind players that it has already been used that turn (by analogy to "tapping," in the sense of drawing on to the point of tempora
18. v. (informal) To cadge, borrow or beg.
I tried to tap a cigarette off him, but he wouldn't give me one.
19. v. (medicine, informal) To drain off fluid by paracentesis.
20. v. To strike lightly.
21. v. To touch one's finger, foot, or other body parts on a surface (usually) repeatedly.
He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table.
She tapped her companion on the back to indicate that she was ready to go.
Lydia tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
22. v. To make a sharp noise.
The tree, swaying in the breeze, began to tap on the window pane.
23. v. To designate for some duty or for membership, as in 'a tap on the shoulder'.
24. v. (slang) To have sexual intercourse with.
I would tap that hot girl over there.
I'd tap that.
25. v. (combat sports) To submit to an opponent by tapping one's hand repeatedly.
26. v. (combat sports) To force (an opponent) to submit.
27. v. To put a new sole or heel on.
to tap shoes
28. n. A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.
When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.
29. n. tap dance
30. n. (computing) The act of touching a touch screen.
31. n. A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel; a heeltap.
32. n. (military) A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed; usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.
33. n. (phonetics) A consonant sound made by a single muscle contraction, such as the sound ɾ in the standard American English pronunciation of body.
