Word: tap Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Middle English tappen, teppen (“to give (something) a knock or tap; to hit (something) lightly, pat, tap”), either: * imitative of the making of a tapping sound; or * from Old French tapper, taper (“to tap”) (modern French taper), from Frankish *tappōn, *dabbōn (“to strike”), or from Middle Low German tappen, tapen (“to rap, strike, tap”). Doublet of dab. Verb etymology 2, verb sense 1.1.1 (“to arrest (someone)”) and etymology 2, verb sense 1.6 (“to choose or designate (someone) for a duty, etc.”) allude to a police officer or other person tapping someone on their shoulder to catch their attention or to select them. The noun is derived from Middle English tap, tappe (“light blow or hit”), and then either: * from Middle English tappen (verb) (see above); or * from Old French tape (“light slap or touch, pat”) (modern French tape), from tapper, taper (verb) (see above). Cognates * German tappen (“to fumble; to grope”) * Icelandic tappa, tapsa, tæpta (“to tap”) Pronunciation: /tæp/, [tʰæp], /tɐːp/ 1. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. Labels: transitive Example: Emma tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention. Example: Let vs then get vviſdome in the guiding of all our ſpeeches, and perſvvaſions. Imitate the threſher, vvhen thou art to deale vvith thy Brother; vvho firſt Tappeth his Corne in the ſheafe, before he lay on greater ſtroakes, for elſe the good graine vvould fly into euery corner, and the ſtravv not endure the flayle: ſo, begin by degrees vvith another, and vvhen he vvill endure Tapping, then ſmite harder, or elſe thou doſt but labour in vaine. 2. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. Labels: slang, transitive Example: We are certainly scented here, and I walk about like a barrel of beer at Christmas, under hourly apprehension of being tapped! Example: "You have to pack up and get out of there, girl. You could end up being tapped for that pimp's murder. The police ain't gonna hear about finding your aunt Viv. Or about Andre's butt. What are y'all going to do if they point the finger at him? If the cops over there are like they are over here, they ain't gonna look no further than the first black man they can put their hands on. They'll put his long legs under the jail." 3. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. Labels: slang, transitive, vulgar Example: I would tap that hot girl over there. Example: I’d tap that. 4. To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. Labels: slang, transitive Example: Heard that, too, Rose said. A thirtyeight revolver. Only you tapped him with a rifle from a hundred yards out. Example: Not something he worried a lot about since in his line of work, chances were better than good that he wasn't going to live that long. When your job was to step between a bullet and its intended recipient, sooner or later you were going to be tapped, for sure. 5. To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. Labels: transitive Example: You can pay by tapping your card. Example: He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table. 6. To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. Labels: transitive Example: Next, tap on the browser to get on the internet. 7. To (lightly) touch (a finger, foot, or other body part) on a surface, often repeatedly. Labels: transitive Example: The therapist tapped him when he was overcome by anxiety. 8. To force (an opponent) to submit, chiefly by indicating their intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out. Labels: transitive Example: Hard to believe Kimo [Leopoldo] used a triangle choke to tap [Kazushi] Sak[uraba], but 4 years can make a difference. Example: Just started bjj [Brazilian jiu-jitsu] couple of months ago and i finally tapped someone!!! WOOOHOO! The guy i tapped has been traiing a few more months than me, outweighs me by at least 30 pounds, and is in great shape from the army. 9. To invoke a function on an electronic device such as a mobile phone by touching (a button, icon, or specific location on its touch screen). Labels: transitive Example: Tap the Save Image button to save the picture in your iPod touch or iPhone photo library (in the Saved Images album) or tap Cancel to cancel. Example: As you type, your fingers play an idiosyn­cratic composition of keystroke rhythms on your keyboard. Similarly, the swipes and taps on your touch­screen form a living signature of your movement. The emerging field of gesture biometrics uses these movement signatures in security and other applications in interface design. 10. To repair (an item of footwear) by putting on a new heel or sole, or a piece of material on to the heel or sole. Labels: UK, US, dialectal, transitive Example: to tap shoes 11. To choose or designate (someone) for a duty, an honour, membership of an organization, or a position. Labels: US, informal, transitive Example: He was tapped by the president to act as a special counsel. Example: One day reconnaissance informs us that the krauts have moved up their forward outposts in our sector. It could be the prelude to an attack. A patrol is organized to knock out the positions. In our platoon Kerrigan, Berner, and Thompson get tapped for service. 12. Often followed by at or on: to strike lightly with a clear sound; also, to make a sharp noise through this action. Labels: intransitive Example: The tree was swaying in the breeze and tapping on the window pane. Example: She tapped gently at the door, and vvas anſvvered by Madame, vvho vvas alarmed at being avvakened at ſo unuſual an hour, and believed that ſome danger threatened her huſband. 13. To walk by striking the ground lightly with a clear sound. Labels: intransitive Example: Our England for ever! Ten thouſand French, my brave Lad! I am going to tap avvay directly. 14. Of a bell, a drum, etc.: to make a sharp noise, often as a signal. Labels: intransitive 15. To submit to an opponent, chiefly by indicating an intention to do so by striking a hand on the ground several times; to tap out. Labels: intransitive 16. Of a hare or rabbit: to strike the ground repeatedly with its feet during the rutting season. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: [A] Bore ſcreameth: a Hare & a Cony beateth or tappeth: a Fox barketh: […] when they ſeeke or hunt after their mates.