tapped; tapping
1
: to strike lightly especially with a slight sound
2
: to give a light blow with
tap a pencil on the table
3
: to bring about by repeated light blows
tap out a story on the typewriter
4
: to repair by putting a tap on
1
a
: a light usually audible blow
also
: its sound
b
: one of several usually rapid drumbeats on a snare drum
2
: a small metal plate for the sole or heel of a shoe
4
5
1
2
a
: a liquor drawn through a tap
b
: the procedure of removing fluid (as from a body cavity)
3
: wiretap
4
: a tool for forming an internal screw thread
5
: an intermediate point in an electric circuit where a connection may be made
tapped; tapping
1
: to let out or cause to flow by piercing or by drawing a plug from the containing vessel
tap wine from a cask
2
a
: to pierce so as to let out or draw off a fluid
tap maple trees
b
: to draw out, from, or upon
tap new sources of revenue
the story taps powerful emotions
3
: to cut in on (something, such as a telephone or radio signal) to get information
4
: to form an internal screw thread in by means of a tap
5
: to get money from as a loan or gift
6
: to connect (a street gas or water main) with a local supply
Phrases
on tap
1
: ready to be drawn from a large container (such as a cask or keg)
ale on tap
2
: broached or furnished with a tap
3
: on hand : available
services instantly on tap—
Hugh Dwan
Hugh Dwan4
: coming up
other matches on tap—H. W. Wind
H. W. Wind
: to make a strong or advantageous connection with
trying to tap into a new market
Synonyms
Examples of tap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebEmily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
Each song taps into a particular strand of emotion that no one else would think to identify, let alone try to write about.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024
The network soon tapped Ryan Seacrest, who will also serve as consulting producer, as Sajak's replacement for season 42.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Rasool says California has awarded $22 million for green hydrogen projects, including three plants that will tap renewable electricity to power electrolyzers, which produce hydrogen from water.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The move will also help Scania tap into China’s technology expertise, either by hiring skilled workers or potentially buying software startups specializing in human-to-machine interfaces or voice recognition, the CEO said.
—Rafaela Lindeberg, Fortune Europe, 4 Apr. 2024
When iPhone users send texts to other iPhones, the messages appear blue and can tap into exclusive perks like an animation of birthday confetti.
—Brian X. Chen, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
But after the man in the jacket tapped Sergio Harris on the shoulder and warned him, Harris continued down the street near 10th and K and looked toward a group of men against a wall.
—Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
The Moscow and Iran attacks demonstrated more sophistication, counterterrorism officials said, suggesting a greater level of planning and an ability to tap into local extremist networks.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
The restaurant’s bar serves several local beers on tap, including Lagunitas, Stone, Coronado Brewing Co., Ale Smith, Karl Strauss, Pizza Port, Eppig, Mother Earth and Mike Hess.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
The network also has two new series on tap: 2023 holdover High Potential from Drew Goddard and the Ryan Murphy-produced Dr. Odyssey, starring Joshua Jackson.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
Others acts on tap for the festival include: Badflower, Pop Evil, Giovannie & the Hired Guns, Bad Wolves, Tom Keifer, Winger, Faster Pussycat, Vixen, Set It Off, The Warning, Kim Dracula, Austin Meade, Oxymorrons, Holy Wars, Enuff Z’Nuff, Atomic Punks and many more.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024
Returning to the Craft Beer Barn is the Cabin from Houston Hospitality, which offers a transportive mountain atmosphere with craft cocktails on tap.
—Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Diners 21 and older can also enjoy the Path of Totality, a limited-edition blackberry espresso sour beer available in cans and on tap.
—The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Even with a franchise-record eight-game homestand on tap and the team making in its first appearance at Spectrum Center in nearly two weeks, Steve Clifford wasn’t about to sugarcoat things.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Eatery and Taproom for award-winning burgers and 12 craft beers on tap.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
At first, Flynn and Scott tapped into their theater backgrounds and used the rehearsals as an opportunity to explore their characters and to try new things in the scenes.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
Each song taps into a particular strand of emotion that no one else would think to identify, let alone try to write about.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024
The network soon tapped Ryan Seacrest, who will also serve as consulting producer, as Sajak's replacement for season 42.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Rasool says California has awarded $22 million for green hydrogen projects, including three plants that will tap renewable electricity to power electrolyzers, which produce hydrogen from water.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The move will also help Scania tap into China’s technology expertise, either by hiring skilled workers or potentially buying software startups specializing in human-to-machine interfaces or voice recognition, the CEO said.
—Rafaela Lindeberg, Fortune Europe, 4 Apr. 2024
When iPhone users send texts to other iPhones, the messages appear blue and can tap into exclusive perks like an animation of birthday confetti.
—Brian X. Chen, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
But after the man in the jacket tapped Sergio Harris on the shoulder and warned him, Harris continued down the street near 10th and K and looked toward a group of men against a wall.
—Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
The Moscow and Iran attacks demonstrated more sophistication, counterterrorism officials said, suggesting a greater level of planning and an ability to tap into local extremist networks.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Cheers to National Beer Day, which is on tap Sunday, April 7.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
The restaurant’s bar serves several local beers on tap, including Lagunitas, Stone, Coronado Brewing Co., Ale Smith, Karl Strauss, Pizza Port, Eppig, Mother Earth and Mike Hess.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
The network also has two new series on tap: 2023 holdover High Potential from Drew Goddard and the Ryan Murphy-produced Dr. Odyssey, starring Joshua Jackson.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
Others acts on tap for the festival include: Badflower, Pop Evil, Giovannie & the Hired Guns, Bad Wolves, Tom Keifer, Winger, Faster Pussycat, Vixen, Set It Off, The Warning, Kim Dracula, Austin Meade, Oxymorrons, Holy Wars, Enuff Z’Nuff, Atomic Punks and many more.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024
Returning to the Craft Beer Barn is the Cabin from Houston Hospitality, which offers a transportive mountain atmosphere with craft cocktails on tap.
—Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Diners 21 and older can also enjoy the Path of Totality, a limited-edition blackberry espresso sour beer available in cans and on tap.
—The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Even with a franchise-record eight-game homestand on tap and the team making in its first appearance at Spectrum Center in nearly two weeks, Steve Clifford wasn’t about to sugarcoat things.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Eatery and Taproom for award-winning burgers and 12 craft beers on tap.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tap
Cite this Entry
“Tap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tap. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tap
2 of 4 verb
tapped; tapping
1
: to release or cause to flow by making a hole or by drawing a plug from a container or cavity
tap wine from a cask
2
a
: to make a hole in so as to let out or draw off a fluid
tap maple trees
b
: to draw from or upon
tap the nation's resources
tapper
noun
tap
3 of 4 verb
tapped; tapping
: to strike or cause to strike lightly especially with a slight sound
tap on a window
tap one's foot
tapper
noun
tap
4 of 4 noun1
: a light blow or its sound
2
: a small metal plate for the sole or heel of a shoe (as for tap dancing)
Etymology
Noun
Old English tæppa "a plug for a hole (as in a wine cask)"
Verb
Middle English tappen "to strike lightly, tap," from early French taper "to strike with the side of the hand"; of Germanic origin
Medical Definition
tap
1 of 4 noun
: the procedure of removing fluid (as from a body cavity) see lumbar puncture
tap
2 of 4 transitive verb
tapped; tapping
: to pierce so as to let out or draw off a fluid
tap the spine for a specimen of cerebrospinal fluid
tap
3 of 4 transitive verb
tapped; tapping
: to strike lightly especially with a slight sound
tap
4 of 4 noun
: a light usually audible blow
also
: its sound
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