lap

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
a
: a loose overlapping or hanging panel or flap especially of a garment
b
archaic : the skirt of a coat or dress
2
a
: the clothing that lies on the knees, thighs, and lower part of the trunk when one sits
b
: the front part of the lower trunk and thighs of a seated person
3
: responsible custody : control
going to drop the whole thing in your lapHamilton Basso
lapful noun

lap

2 of 5

verb (1)

lapped; lapping

transitive verb

1
a
: to fold over or around something : wind
b
: to envelop entirely : swathe
2
: to fold over especially into layers
3
: to hold protectively in or as if in the lap : cuddle
4
a
: to place over and cover a part of : overlap
lap shingles on a roof
b
: to join (things, such as two boards) by a lap joint
5
a
: to dress, smooth, or polish (something, such as a metal surface) to a high degree of refinement or accuracy
b
: to shape or fit by working two surfaces together with or without abrasives until a very close fit is produced
6
a
: to overtake and thereby lead or increase the lead over (another contestant) by a full circuit of a racecourse
b
: to complete the circuit of (a racecourse)

intransitive verb

1
: fold, wind
2
a
: to project beyond or spread over something
b
: to lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another : overlap
3
: to traverse a course

lap

3 of 5

noun (2)

1
a
: the amount by which one object overlaps or projects beyond another
b
: the part of an object that overlaps another
2
: a smoothing and polishing tool usually consisting of a piece of wood, leather, felt, or soft metal in a special shape used with or without an embedded abrasive
3
: a doubling or layering of a flexible substance (such as fibers or paper)
4
a
: the act or an instance of traversing a course (such as a racing track or swimming pool)
also : the distance covered
b
: one segment of a larger unit (such as a journey)
c
: one complete turn (as of a rope around a drum)

lap

4 of 5

verb (2)

lapped; lapping; laps
1
a
transitive + intransitive : to take in (food or drink) with the tongue
a cat lapping milk from a dish
often used with up
Covered with sticky saliva, this long tongue helps the aardvark lap up a lot of termites.Jo Anne Chitwood Snow
b
transitive : to take in or absorb (something) eagerly or quickly
used with up
The crowd lapped up every word he said.
2
a
intransitive : to make a gentle, intermittent splashing sound
It was quiet except for the ripples of water lapping at the side of the boat.Elisa Smith
b
intransitive : to move in little waves : wash
… banging the table so hard that a couple of lattes lapped over the edge of their cups …Douglas Frantz et al.
c
transitive : to flow or splash against (something) in little waves
… the firm ribbon of beach lapped by waves.William Nack

lap

5 of 5

noun (3)

1
a
: an act or instance of lapping
b
: the amount that can be carried to the mouth by one lick or scoop of the tongue
2
: a thin or weak beverage or food
3
: a gentle splashing sound
Phrases
the lap of luxury
: an environment of great ease, comfort, and wealth

Examples of lap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Her eyes were half open, lips parted, hands in her lap and upturned. Zach Williams, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 The resort also has fat tire bikes that can plow through powder, and Winter Park Ski Resort is just 10 miles from the ranch if doing laps on the slopes is on your mind. Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2024 The result is a 157-pound weight reduction and a car that just set the electric series-production lap record at Laguna Seca with a time of just 1:27.87. Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan take Oscar victory laps for 'Oppenheimer' Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan ran roughshod over awards season, so why not Oscars, too? Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 But with prospects for the arena seeming to dim as the Feb. 29 game approached, there were concerns that the move would look like a premature victory lap. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 The home with four bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms has its own airplane hangar, a gym, two offices, a great room with 19-foot ceilings, 20-foot steel doors, double kitchen islands, a primary suite with a fireplace, a coffee bar, fire pits and a lap pool. Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 Many airlines allow kids under 2 to fly in your lap for a very low rate, sometimes even for free. Emily Siner, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 On Monday, the Justice Department took a victory lap. David Koenig, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024
Verb
Americans in their 20s and 30s nowadays have a lot of spare parental love in their hearts — and their dogs are lapping it up. Sam Apple, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 With vocals that feel like braided silk and rhythms like waves slowly lapping in a sepulcher, The Rot carries the listener to a romantic – almost gothic – space while keeping one tethered to reality. Spin Contributor, SPIN, 11 Mar. 2024 Both varieties of artwork simulate depth by making serpentine bands appear to lap over and under each other. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The only certainty is that media, social and otherwise, will lap it all up. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024 Made on a shoestring budget and shot over a little more than a week, it was lapped up for giving a uniquely dark and hilarious twist to the standard gangster flick while adding splashes of U.K. kitchen-sink social realism into the mix. Alex Ritman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 Everyone lapped up the Outsiders House Museum, a faithful re-creation of the bungalow the Curtis brothers shared in the movie, located in a residential neighborhood whistling distance from the train tracks. Melena Ryzik Adali Schell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 After 54 games this season, Antetokounmpo is lapping the field in restricted area scoring. Shane Young, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Chinese consumers, especially those in lower-tier cities, are lapping it up. TIME, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English lappe, from Old English læppa; akin to Old High German lappa flap

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English lapian; akin to Old High German laffan to lick, Latin lambere, Greek laphyssein to devour

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of lap was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lap

Cite this Entry

“Lap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lap. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lap

1 of 5 noun
1
: a loose panel in a garment : flap
2
a
: the clothing that lies on the knees and thighs when one sits
b
: the front part of a person between the waist and the knees when seated

lap

2 of 5 verb
lapped; lapping
1
2
3
: to lay or lie over or near something else so as to partly cover it
lap one shingle over another

lap

3 of 5 noun
1
a
: the amount by which one object overlaps another
b
: the part of an object that overlaps another
2
a
: one time around a racetrack
b
: one part of a journey

lap

4 of 5 verb
lapped; lapping
1
: to scoop up food or drink with the tongue
2
: to wash or splash gently

lap

5 of 5 noun
: an act or sound of lapping
Etymology

Noun

Old English læppa "flap of a garment"

Verb

Old English lapian "to take into the mouth by means of the tongue"

Medical Definition

lap

abbreviation
laparotomy

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