Lap - English meaning

verb

Strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, typically with an implement such as a club or whip.

Usage examples:

If we were caught we were beaten

noun

A main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry.

Usage examples:

The glissando begins on the second beat

adjective

Short for beatnik.

verb

Separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.

Usage examples:

The branch broke with a loud snap

noun

An interruption of continuity or uniformity.

Usage examples:

The magazine has been published without a break since 1950

noun

Former term for breaking cart.

noun

A round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the centre).

Usage examples:

Draw a circle with a compass

verb

Move all the way around (someone or something), especially more than once.

Usage examples:

They were circling athens airport

noun

A roughly circular line, route, or movement that starts and finishes at the same place.

Usage examples:

I ran a circuit of the village

verb

Move all the way around (a place or thing).

Usage examples:

The trains will follow the northern line, circuiting the capital

noun

A closed system esp. of wires through which electricity can flow

Usage examples:

Big electronic circuits can carry huge amounts of data., holiday phone calls always overload the ci…

verb

Put something on top of or in front of (something), especially in order to protect or conceal it.

Usage examples:

The table had been covered with a checked tablecloth

noun

A thing which lies on, over, or around something, especially in order to protect or conceal it.

Usage examples:

A seat cover

verb

To put or spread something over something, or to lie on the surface of something

Usage examples:

Once the rice comes to a boil, turn down the flame and cover the pot., she covered the child with a…

verb

Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.

Usage examples:

I dashed into the garden

exclamation

Used to express mild annoyance.

Usage examples:

Dash it all, i am in charge

noun

An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily.

Usage examples:

She made a dash for the door

verb

Take (a liquid) into the mouth and swallow.

Usage examples:

We sat by the fire, drinking our tea

noun

A liquid that can be swallowed as refreshment or nourishment.

Usage examples:

Fizzy drinks

verb

Take in liquids

verb

Enclose or cover in a case or close-fitting surround.

Usage examples:

Each was encased in a plastic shrink-wrap

verb

Surround; envelop.

Usage examples:

He shut off the engine and silence enfolded them

verb

To closely hold or completely cover someone or something

Usage examples:

Enfold someone in your arms he enfolded her in his arms.

verb

Wrap up, cover, or surround completely.

Usage examples:

A figure enveloped in a black cloak

verb

To cover or surround something completely

Usage examples:

The entire area was enveloped in fog.

verb

(of a liquid, gas, or electricity) move steadily and continuously in a current or stream.

Usage examples:

From here the river flows north

noun

The action or fact of moving along in a steady, continuous stream.

Usage examples:

The flow of water into the pond

verb

(esp. of liquids, gases, or electricity) to move in one direction, esp. continuously and easily

Usage examples:

Air flows over an aircraft’s wing faster than it flows under it., lava from the volcano was flowing…

verb

Swallow (drink or food) quickly or in large mouthfuls, often audibly.

Usage examples:

He gulped down the last of his coffee

noun

An act of gulping food or drink.

Usage examples:

She finished her drink in one gulp

verb

To eat or drink food or liquid quickly by swallowing it in large amounts

Usage examples:

[ t ] ray gulped the last of his coffee and pushed back his chair., [ i ] "i find this a very confu…

noun

The joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans.

Usage examples:

The ball bounced off his knee and ran out wide

verb

Hit (someone) with one's knee.

Usage examples:

She kneed him in the groin

noun

The middle joint of the leg

Usage examples:

I stood in the water up to my knees., he got down on his hands and knees to look for his contact le…

noun

The joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans.

Usage examples:

The ball bounced off his knee and ran out wide

verb

Hit (someone) with one's knee.

Usage examples:

She kneed him in the groin

noun

The middle joint of the leg

Usage examples:

I stood in the water up to my knees., he got down on his hands and knees to look for his contact le…

noun

Each of the limbs on which a person or animal walks and stands.

Usage examples:

Adams broke his leg

verb

Travel by foot; walk.

Usage examples:

I am part of a team legging it around london

noun

One of the parts of a human or animal body that is used for standing or walking, or one of the thin, vertical parts on which a piece of furniture stands

Usage examples:

[ c ] he broke his leg skiing., [ c ] the table has carved legs., [ u ] we had leg of lamb for dinn…

noun

A shape produced by a curve that bends round and crosses itself.

Usage examples:

Make a loop in the twine

verb

Form (something) into a loop or loops; encircle.

Usage examples:

She looped her arms around his neck

noun

A circular shape made by something long and narrow in which the two ends cross each other, leaving an open space within

Usage examples:

A loop of thread from my sweater caught on a nail., the exit ramp makes a loop under the elevated h…

verb

Leave (a competitor or pursuer) far behind.

Usage examples:

She could maintain a fast enough pace to outdistance any pursuers

verb

To go faster or farther than other competitors, esp. in a race

Usage examples:

He easily outdistanced the other runners.

verb

Move faster than and overtake (someone else).

Usage examples:

During the morning warm-up, he once again outstripped the field

verb

To be or become greater than something or someone in amount, degree, or success

Usage examples:

Car dealers worry that demand will outstrip their supply.

verb

To be more successful than expected

Usage examples:

Outstrip expectations/forecasts/predictions group sales were up 6% to $5.8 billion, outstripping wa…

verb

Take apart (a piece of machinery or equipment) in order to examine it and repair it if necessary.

Usage examples:

The steering box was recently overhauled

noun

A thorough examination of machinery or a system, with repairs or changes made if necessary.

Usage examples:

A major overhaul of environmental policies

verb

To repair or improve something so it works well

Usage examples:

They repaired and maintained aircraft and overhauled their engines., congressional leaders are cons…

verb

Catch up with and pass while travelling in the same direction.

Usage examples:

Her car overtook a line of vehicles

noun

An amount or section which, when combined with others, makes up the whole of something.

Usage examples:

Divide the circle into three equal parts

verb

(of two things) move away from each other.

Usage examples:

His lips parted in a smile

adverb

To some extent; partly (often used to contrast different parts of something).

Usage examples:

The city is now part slum, part consumer paradise

verb

Move or cause to move in a specified direction.

Usage examples:

He passed through towns and villages

noun

An act or instance of moving past or through something.

Usage examples:

Repeated passes with the swipe card

exclamation

Said when one does not know the answer to a question, for example in a quiz.

Usage examples:

To the enigmatic question we answered ‘pass’

noun

A distinct period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development.

Usage examples:

The final phases of the war

verb

Carry out (something) in gradual stages.

Usage examples:

The work is being phased over a number of years

noun

Any stage in a series of events or in a process of development

Usage examples:

The project is only in its first phase of planning, so we haven’t yet established the cost.

noun

A splashing sound.

Usage examples:

The plash of the fountain

verb

Make a splashing sound.

Usage examples:

The oars plashed in the silence

verb

Bend down and interweave (branches and twigs) to form a hedge.

Usage examples:

When hawthorn, blackthorn or firethorn were plashed in a hedge, they formed a difficult defensive h…

noun

A part of a whole.

Usage examples:

A portion of the jetty still stands

verb

Divide (something) into parts; share out.

Usage examples:

Every month you send the agency a single payment that is portioned out to each of your creditors un…

adjective

Denoting or relating to a knitting stitch made by putting the needle through the front of the stitch from right to left.

verb

Knit with a purl stitch.

Usage examples:

Knit one, purl one

noun

A cord of twisted gold or silver wire used for bordering or edging something.

Usage examples:

The spangle kept in place by a stitch through a short piece of purl.

noun

A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system.

Usage examples:

The country has had a socialist revolution

noun

A sudden and great change, esp. the violent change of a system of government

Usage examples:

[ u ] the country seems to be heading toward revolution., [ c ] the discovery of penicillin produce…

noun

A big change or improvement in the way that something works or looks, or in the way that people do a particular activity

Usage examples:

A revolution in sth facing up to climate change requires a revolution in business thinking., an eco…

noun

A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by a slight breeze or an object dropping into it.

Usage examples:

He dived into the pool leaving barely a ripple

verb

(of water) form or flow with a series of small waves on the surface.

Usage examples:

The mediterranean rippled and sparkled

noun

A small wave or a slight movement of a surface, esp. the surface of water

Usage examples:

The stone hit the water and caused a ring of ripples to spread out., a ripple of laughter ran throu…

verb

Move in a particular direction by turning over and over on an axis.

Usage examples:

The car rolled down into a ditch

noun

A cylinder formed by winding flexible material round a tube or by turning it over and over on itself without folding.

Usage examples:

A roll of carpet

verb

Move by turning over or rotating

adjective

Shaped like a circle or cylinder.

Usage examples:

She was seated at a small, round table

noun

A circular piece of something.

Usage examples:

Cut the pastry into rounds

adverb

So as to rotate or cause rotation; with circular motion.

Usage examples:

A plane circled round overhead

verb

Move with urgent haste.

Usage examples:

Oliver rushed after her

noun

A sudden quick movement towards something, typically by a number of people.

Usage examples:

There was a rush for the door

noun

An erect, tufted marsh or waterside plant resembling a sedge or grass, with inconspicuous greenish or brownish flowers. widely distributed in temperate areas, some kinds are used for matting, chair seats, and baskets.

Usage examples:

Then the land went down, and there was marsh of rushes and willow and hazel.

noun

Any of the more or less distinct parts into which something is or may be divided or from which it is made up.

Usage examples:

I unscrewed every section of copper pipe, from the roof tank to the hot-water cylinder

verb

Divide into sections.

Usage examples:

She began to section the grapefruit

noun

A part of something

Usage examples:

Dad always reads the sports section of the newspaper., he lived in a poor section of town., you’ll …

noun

Each of the parts into which something is or may be divided.

Usage examples:

A large segment of the local population

verb

Divide (something) into separate parts or sections.

Usage examples:

The unemployed are segmented into two groups

One of several parts that fit with others to make a whole

verb

Drink (something) by taking small mouthfuls.

Usage examples:

I sat sipping coffee

noun

A small mouthful of liquid.

Usage examples:

She took a sip of the red wine

verb

Drink in sips

verb

Hit or strike with the palm of the hand or a flat object.

Usage examples:

My sister slapped my face

noun

A blow with the palm of the hand or a flat object.

Usage examples:

He gave her a slap across her cheek

adverb

Suddenly and directly, especially with great force.

Usage examples:

Storming out of her room, she went slap into luke

verb

(of liquid in a container) move irregularly with a splashing sound.

Usage examples:

Water in the boat sloshed about under our feet

noun

An act or sound of splashing.

Usage examples:

The distant slosh of the washing machine in the basement

verb

(of a liquid) to hit against the inside of a container, or to cause liquid to move around in this way

Usage examples:

[ i ] water sloshed over the sides of the pool as the children jumped in., [ t ] john sloshed juice…

verb

Drink or eat (something) with a loud sucking noise.

Usage examples:

She slurped her coffee

noun

A loud sucking sound made while drinking or eating.

Usage examples:

She drank it down with a loud slurp

verb

To make sucking noises while eating or drinking

Usage examples:

[ t ] i wanted to tell him not to slurp his soup.

noun

A sound made by something striking or falling into liquid.

Usage examples:

We hit the water with a mighty splash

verb

Cause (liquid) to strike or fall on something in irregular drops.

Usage examples:

She splashed cold water on to her face

verb

To scatter liquid or to cause liquid to scatter through the air or onto something

Usage examples:

[ t ] she splashed her face with cold water., [ i ] kids love to splash around in mud puddles., a s…

noun

A point, period, or step in a process or development.

Usage examples:

There is no need at this stage to give explicit details

verb

Present a performance of (a play or other show).

Usage examples:

The show is being staged at the grand opera house in belfast

noun

A part of an activity, or a period of development

Usage examples:

The software is in the early stages of development., at that stage of my life, i was married but di…

noun

An act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running.

Usage examples:

Ron took a step back

verb

Lift and set down one's foot or one foot after the other in order to walk somewhere or move to a new position.

Usage examples:

Claudia tried to step back

combining form

Denoting a relationship resulting from a remarriage.

Usage examples:

Stepmother

verb

(of something soft or elastic) be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking.

Usage examples:

My jumper stretched in the wash

noun

An act of stretching one's limbs or body.

Usage examples:

I got up and had a stretch

verb

To reach across a distance or become longer or wider, or to cause something to do this

Usage examples:

[ i ] rubber stretches when you pull it., [ t ] the banner was stretched across the street., [ m ] …

verb

Hit forcibly and deliberately with one's hand or a weapon or other implement.

Usage examples:

He raised his hand, as if to strike me

noun

A refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in an attempt to gain a concession or concessions from their employer.

Usage examples:

Dockers voted for an all-out strike

verb

Deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon

verb

Draw into the mouth by contracting the muscles of the lips and mouth to make a partial vacuum.

Usage examples:

They suck mint juleps through straws

noun

An act of sucking something.

Usage examples:

The fish draws the bait into its mouth with a strong suck

exclamation

Used to express derision and defiance.

Usage examples:

Sucks to them!

verb

Take (drink or liquid food) by sips or spoonfuls.

Usage examples:

She supped up her soup delightedly

noun

A sip of liquid.

Usage examples:

He took another sup of wine

verb

Eat supper.

Usage examples:

You'll sup on seafood delicacies

noun

A sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force such as the tide.

Usage examples:

Flooding caused by tidal surges

verb

(of a crowd or a natural force) move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward.

Usage examples:

The journalists surged forward

noun

A sudden and great increase

Usage examples:

A surge in sales, a surge in the stock market, the young american’s victory touched off a surge of …

verb

Be all round (someone or something).

Usage examples:

The hotel is surrounded by its own gardens

noun

A thing that forms a border or edging round an object.

Usage examples:

An oak fireplace surround

verb

To be around something on all sides

Usage examples:

Snow-capped mountains surround the city., the house was surrounded by dense woods., i’m interested …

verb

Wrap (someone, especially a baby) in garments or cloth.

Usage examples:

She swaddled the baby tightly

verb

To wrap a baby tightly in cloth

Usage examples:

Swaddling a baby tightly in a blanket can be a good way to stop it crying.

verb

Cause or allow (something, especially food or drink) to pass down the throat.

Usage examples:

She swallowed a mouthful slowly

noun

An act of swallowing something, especially food or drink.

Usage examples:

He downed his drink in one swallow

noun

A migratory swift-flying songbird with a forked tail and long pointed wings, feeding on insects in flight.

Usage examples:

The central aim of our study was to demonstrate that both natural and sexual selection have been im…

noun

A broad strip or area of something.

Usage examples:

Vast swathes of countryside

verb

Wrap in several layers of fabric.

Usage examples:

His hands were swathed in bandages

noun

A piece or strip of material in which something is wrapped.

Usage examples:

They wrapped the body inside a canvas swathe

verb

Wash or rinse out (an area or container) by pouring large amounts of water or other liquid over or into it.

Usage examples:

I swilled out the mug

noun

Kitchen refuse and scraps of waste food mixed with water for feeding to pigs.

Usage examples:

Government yesterday also placed an immediate ban on swill (kitchen refuse) bought from ships after…

verb

To drink something, usually alcohol, in large amounts

verb

Move with a hissing or rushing sound.

Usage examples:

A car swished by

noun

A hissing or rustling sound.

Usage examples:

He could hear the swish of a distant car

adjective

An effeminate gay man.

noun

The part of the human leg between the hip and the knee.

Usage examples:

A cuff is inflated around the thigh to obstruct venous outflow but not arterial inflow.

noun

The part of a person’s leg below the hip and above the knee

noun

A journey for pleasure in which several different places are visited.

Usage examples:

A motoring tour of scotland

verb

Make a tour of (an area).

Usage examples:

He decided to tour france

verb

Form into a bent, curling, or distorted shape.

Usage examples:

A strip of metal is twisted to form a hollow tube

noun

An act of twisting something around a stationary point.

Usage examples:

The taps needed a single twist to turn them on

verb

Cause an object to assume a curved or distorted shape

verb

Clean with water and, typically, soap or detergent.

Usage examples:

Auntie lou had washed all their clothes

noun

An act of washing something or an instance of being washed.

Usage examples:

Her hair needs a wash

abbreviation

Washington.

noun

The perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.

Usage examples:

The wind howled about the building

verb

Cause (someone) to have difficulty breathing because of exertion or a blow to the stomach.

Usage examples:

The fall nearly winded him

noun

A twist or turn in a course.

Usage examples:

After a few minutes of puzzled winds and twists and turns and curses muttered under my breath, i co…

verb

Cover or enclose in paper or soft material.

Usage examples:

The candles are wrapped in tissue paper

noun

A loose outer garment or piece of material.

Usage examples:

Beach wraps

verb

To cover something or someone with paper, cloth, or other material

Usage examples:

She wrapped the present and tied it with a ribbon., wrap the chicken in foil and cook it for two ho…