To strike with a slight or gentle blow; to touch gently; to rap lightly; to pat; as, to tap one with the hand or a cane. [1913 Webster]
To put a new sole or heel on; as, to tap shoes. [1913 Webster]

tap, n. [Cf. F. tape. See Tap to strike.].

A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat. Addison. [1913 Webster]
A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel. [1913 Webster]
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. Wilhelm. [1913 Webster]

tap, v. i.

To strike a gentle blow. [1913 Webster]

tap, n. [AS. tæppa, akin to D. tap, G. zapfen, OHG. zapfo, Dan. tap, Sw. tapp, Icel. tappi. Cf. Tampion, Tip.].

A hole or pipe through which liquor is drawn. [1913 Webster]
A plug or spile for stopping a hole pierced in a cask, or the like; a faucet. [1913 Webster]
Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; as, a liquor of the same tap. [1913 Webster]
A place where liquor is drawn for drinking; a taproom; a bar. [1913 Webster]
A tool for forming an internal screw, as in a nut, consisting of a hardened steel male screw grooved longitudinally so as to have cutting edges. [1913 Webster]

On tap. (a) Ready to be drawn; as, ale on tap. (b) Broached, or furnished with a tap; as, a barrel on tap. -- Plug tap (Mech.), a screw-cutting tap with a slightly tapering end. -- Tap bolt, a bolt with a head on one end and a thread on the other end, to be screwed into some fixed part, instead of passing through the part and receiving a nut. See Illust. under Bolt. -- Tap cinder (Metal.), the slag of a puddling furnace.

tap, v. t.

To pierce so as to let out, or draw off, a fluid; as, to tap a cask, a tree, a tumor, a keg of beer, etc. [1913 Webster]
Hence, to draw resources from (a reservoir) in any analogous way; as, to tap someone's knowledge of the Unix system; to tap the treasury. [1913 Webster]
To draw, or cause to flow, by piercing. Shak. [1913 Webster]
"He has been tapping his liquors." [1913 Webster]
To form an internal screw in (anything) by means of a tool called a tap; as, to tap a nut, a pipe, or tubing. [1913 Webster]
to connect a listening device to (a telephone or telegraph line) secretly, for the purpose of hearing private conversations; also, to obtain or record (information) by tapping; -- a technique used by law enforcement agencies investigating suspected criminals. In the United States it is illegal without a court order permitting it. [PJC]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

tap, n. & v.
--n.
1 a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or vessel can be controlled.
2 an act of tapping a telephone etc.
3 Brit. a taproom.
4 an instrument for cutting the thread of a female screw.
--v.tr. (tapped, tapping)
1 a provide (a cask) with a tap. b let out (a liquid) by means of, or as if by means of, a tap.
2 draw sap from (a tree) by cutting into it.
3 a obtain information or supplies or resources from. b establish communication or trade with.
4 connect a listening device to (a telephone or telegraph line etc.) to listen to a call or transmission.
5 cut a female screw-thread in.

Idiom

on tap
1 ready to be drawn off by tap.
2 colloq. ready for immediate use; freely available. tap root a tapering root growing vertically downwards. tap water water from a piped supply.

Derivative

tapless adj. tappable adj.

tap, v. & n.
--v. (tapped, tapping)
1 intr. (foll. by at, on) strike a gentle but audible blow.
2 tr. strike lightly (tapped me on the shoulder).
3 tr. (foll. by against etc.) cause (a thing) to strike lightly (tapped a stick against the window).
4 intr. = TAP-DANCE v. (can you tap?).
--n.
1 a a light blow; a rap. b the sound of this (heard a tap at the door).
2 a = TAP-DANCE n. (goes to tap classes). b a piece of metal attached to the toe and heel of a tap-dancer's shoe to make the tapping sound.
3 (in pl., usu. treated as sing.) US a a bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters. b a similar signal at a military funeral.

Derivative

tapper n.

Etymology

ME tappe (imit.), perh. through F taper

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THESAURUS

tap

Gramophone, PA, PA system, Victrola, abridge, adjutage, air hole, appoint, armhole, at hand, attend, attend to, audio sound system, audiophile, auger, auscultate, available, avenue, ball cock, ball valve, bang, bar, barroom, be all ears, beak, beat, beat a tattoo, beat the drum, beat time, beating, bend an ear, bereave, binaural system, bitch box, bite, bleed, blowhole, bob, bore, breath, broach, brush, bug, bulb, bulbil, bullet-hole, bullhorn, bump, bung, bunghole, bunt, burst, bust, caress, cartridge, catheter, ceramic pickup, changer, channel, check valve, chink, chuck, chute, clap, clash, cleave, click, clink, clop, clump, clunk, cock, cock the ears, cocktail lounge, come in contact, contact, cork, corm, count, count the beats, countersink, crack, crash, crevasse, cringle, crump, crystal pickup, curtail, cut, cut off, cut open, cutaneous sense, dab, deadeye, debouch, decant, deprive, deprive of, derived four-channel system, discrete four-channel system, disentitle, dispart, divaricate, divest, divide, door, draft, draft off, drain, drain cock, drainpipe, draw, draw cock, draw from, draw off, draw on, drill, drinkery, drum, dull thud, ease one of, eavesdrop, efflux tube, egress, empierce, empty, emunctory, escape, estuary, examine by ear, exhaust, exit, extract, eye, eyelet, faucet, feel, feel of, feeling, fillip, finger, fingertip caress, fire hose, fissure, fix, flap, flick, flip, flirt, floodgate, flop, flue pipe, flume, flump, fly open, four-channel stereo system, funnel, garden hose, gas pipe, gasket, gate, give attention, give audience to, give ear, glance, gore, gouge, gouge out, graze, groggery, grogshop, grommet, guide, hammer, hand-mindedness, handle, hark, hear, hear out, hearken, heed, hi-fi, hi-fi fan, high-fidelity, hit, hole, honeycomb, hose, hosepipe, hydrant, impale, in reserve, incise, intercept, intercom, intercommunication system, jukebox, keep time, keyhole, kiss, knock, knocking, knothole, lambency, lance, lap, lay open, lend an ear, let, let blood, let out, lick, lid, light touch, lighten one of, listen, listen at, listen in, listen to, loop, loophole, magnetic pickup, make, make use of, manhole, manipulate, milk, mine, monaural system, mono, mousehole, name, needle, needle valve, nickelodeon, nipple, nominate, on call, on hand, on tap, ope, open, open up, opening, organ pipe, out, outcome, outfall, outgate, outgo, outlet, pad, palm, palpate, part, pat, patter, paw, peck, pecking, peephole, peg, penetrate, perforate, petcock, phlebotomize, phonograph, photoelectric pickup, pick, pickup, pierce, pigeonhole, pin, pinhole, pink, pipe, pipeline, pipette, piping, pitapat, pitter-patter, placket, placket hole, play drum, plug, plump, plunk, ply, poke at, pop, pore, port, porthole, pothouse, pound, prick, prod, pub, public house, public-address system, pump, pump out, punch, punch-hole, puncture, put through channels, put to use, quadraphonic sound system, radicle, radio-phonograph combination, radix, rap, rapping, ready, ream, ream out, record changer, record player, reed, reed pipe, rent, report, rhizome, riddle, rift, rip, rive, root, rootstock, rub, ruffle, run through, sally port, sap, sea cock, sense of touch, separate, siamese, siamese connection, siphon, siphon off, sit in on, skewer, slam, slap, slat, slit, sluice, smack, smite, snap, snorkel, soil pipe, sound a tattoo, sound reproduction system, sound truck, spear, spigot, spike, spile, spill, spiracle, spit, splat, split, spout, spread, spread out, spring open, squawk box, stab, standpipe, steam pipe, stem, stereo, stick, stop, stopcock, stopgap, stopper, stopple, straw, strike, stroke, stylus, suck, suck out, swap, swing open, system, tactile sense, taction, take away from, take from, tape deck, tape recorder, tapping, taproom, taproot, tear, tear open, tentative poke, throw open, thrum, thud, thumb, thump, thwack, tick, tickle, tinkle, tip, tom-tom, tone arm, touch, transcription turntable, transfix, transpierce, trepan, trephine, tube, tuber, tubercle, tubing, tubulation, tubule, tubulet, tubulure, tunk, turn to account, turntable, twiddle, unplug, use, utilize, valve, valvula, valvule, venesect, vent, ventage, venthole, vomitory, waiting, waste pipe, water pipe, way out, weir, whack, wham, whap, whisk, whisper, whomp, whop, wield, wiretap, withdraw

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ROGET THESAURUS

tap

Opening

N opening, hole, foramen, puncture, perforation, fontanel, transforation, pinhole, keyhole, loophole, porthole, peephole, mousehole, pigeonhole, eye of a needle, eyelet, slot, opening, aperture, apertness, hiation, yawning, oscitancy, dehiscence, patefaction, pandiculation, chasm, embrasure, window, casement, abatjour, light, sky light, fan light, lattice, bay window, bow window, oriel, dormer, lantern, outlet, inlet, vent, vomitory, embouchure, orifice, mouth, sucker, muzzle, throat, gullet, weasand, wizen, nozzle, placket, portal, porch, gate, ostiary, postern, wicket, trapdoor, hatch, door, arcade, cellarway, driveway, gateway, doorway, hatchway, gangway, lich gate, way, path, thoroughfare, channel, passage, passageway, tube, pipe, water pipe, air pipe, vessel, tubule, canal, gut, fistula, adjutage, ajutage, ostium, smokestack, chimney, flue, tap, funnel, gully, tunnel, main, mine, pit, adit, shaft, gallery, alley, aisle, glade, vista, bore, caliber, pore, blind orifice, fulgurite, thundertube, porousness, porosity, sieve, cullender, colander, cribble, riddle, screen, honeycomb, apertion, perforation, piercing, terebration, empalement, pertusion, puncture, acupuncture, penetration, key, opener, master key, password, combination, passe- partout, open, perforated, perforate, wide open, ajar, unclosed, unstopped, oscitant, gaping, yawning, patent, tubular, cannular, fistulous, pervious, permeable, foraminous, vesicular, vasicular, porous, follicular, cribriform, honeycombed, infundibular, riddled, tubulous, tubulated, piped, tubate, opening, aperient, Int, open sesame!.

VB open, ope, gape, yawn, bilge, fly open, perforate, pierce, empierce, tap, bore, drill, mine, tunnel, transpierce, transfix, enfilade, impale, spike, spear, gore, spit, stab, pink, puncture, lance, stick, prick, riddle, punch, stave in, cut a passage through, make way for, make room for, uncover, unclose, unrip, lay open, cut open, rip open, throw open, pop open, blow open, pry open, tear open, pull open.

Stopper

N stopper, stopple, plug, cork, bung, spike, spill, stopcock, tap, rammer, ram, ramrod, piston, stop-gap, wadding, stuffing, padding, stopping, dossil, pledget, tompion, tourniquet, cover, valve, vent peg, spigot, slide valve, janitor, doorkeeper, porter, warder, beadle, cerberus, ostiary.

Impulse

N impulse, sudden thought, impromptu, improvisation, inspiration, flash, spurt, improvisatore, creature of impulse, extemporaneous, impulsive, indeliberate, snap, improvised, improvisate, improvisatory, unpremeditated, unmeditated, improvise, unprompted, unguided, natural, unguarded, spontaneous, instinctive, extempore, extemporaneously, offhand, impromptu, a limproviste, improviso, on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion, impulse, impulsion, impetus, momentum, push, pulsion, thrust, shove, jog, jolt, brunt, booming, boost, throw, explosion, propulsion, percussion, concussion, collision, occursion, clash, encounter, cannon, carambole, appulse, shock, crash, bump, impact, elan, charge, beating, blow, dint, stroke, knock, tap, rap, slap, smack, pat, dab, fillip, slam, bang, hit, whack, thwack, cuff, squash, dowse, swap, whap, punch, thump, pelt, kick, punce, calcitration, ruade, arietation, cut, thrust, lunge, yerk, carom, carrom, clip, jab, plug, sidewinder, sidewipe, sideswipe, hammer, sledge hammer, mall, maul, mallet, flail, ram, rammer, battering ram, monkey, pile-driving engine, punch, bat, cant hook, cudgel, ax, dynamics, seismometer, accelerometer, earthquake detector, impelling, impulsive, impellent, booming, dynamic, dynamical, impelled, a hit, a very palpable hit.

VB flash on the mind, say what comes uppermost, improvise, extemporize, give an impetus, impel, push, start, give a start to, set going, drive, urge, boom, thrust, prod, foin, cant, elbow, shoulder, jostle, justle, hustle, hurtle, shove, jog, jolt, encounter, run against, bump against, butt against, knock one's head against, run one's head against, impinge, boost, bunt, carom, clip y, fan, fan out, jab, plug, strike, knock, hit, tap, rap, slap, flap, dab, pat, thump, beat, blow, bang, slam, dash, punch, thwack, whack, hit hard, strike hard, swap, batter, dowse, baste, pelt, patter, buffet, belabor, fetch one a blow, poke at, pink, lunge, yerk, kick, calcitrate, butt, strike at, whip, come into a collision, enter into collision, collide, sideswipe, foul, fall foul of, run foul of, telescope, throw.

Egress

N egress, exit, issue, emersion, emergence, outbreak, outburst, eruption, proruption, emanation, egression, evacuation, exudation, transudation, extravasation, perspiration, sweating, leakage, percolation, distillation, oozing, gush, outpour, outpouring, effluence, effusion, effluxion, drain, dribbling, defluxion, drainage, outcome, output, discharge, export, expatriation, emigration, remigration, debouch, debouche, emunctory, exodus, emigrant, outlet, vent, spout, tap, sluice, floodgate, pore, vomitory, outgate, sally port, way out, mouth, door, path, conduit, airpipe, effused, outgoing.

Ejection

VB give exit, give vent to, let out, give out, pour out, squeeze out, send out, dispatch, despatch, exhale, excern, excrete, embogue, secrete, secern, extravasate, shed, void, evacuation, emit, open the sluices, open the floodgates, turn on the tap, extrude, detrude, effuse, spend, expend, pour forth, squirt, spirt, spurt, spill, slop, perspire, breathe, blow, tap, draw off, bale out, lade out, let blood, broach, eject, reject, expel, discard, cut, send to coventry, boycott, chasser, banish, bounce, fire, fire out, throw, throw out, throw up, throw off, throw away, throw aside, push, throw out, throw off, throw away, throw aside, shovel out, shovel away, sweep out, sweep away, brush off, brush away, whisk off, whisk away, turn off, turn away, send off, send away, discharge, send adrift, turn adrift, cast adrift, turn out, bundle out, throw overboard, give the sack to, send packing, send about one's business, send to the right about, strike off the roll, turn out neck and heels, turn out head and shoulders, turn out neck and crop, pack off, send away with a flea in the ear, send to Jericho, bow out, show the door to, turn out of doors, turn out of house and home, evict, oust, unhouse, unkennel, dislodge, unpeople, dispeople, depopulate, relegate, deport, empty, drain to the dregs, sweep off, clear off, clear out, clear away, suck, draw off, clean out, make a clean sweep of, clear decks, purge, embowel, disbowel, disembowel, eviscerate, gut, unearth, root out, root up, averuncate, weed out, get out, eliminate, get rid of, do away with, shake off, exenterate, vomit, throw up, regurgitate, spew, puke, keck, retch, heave, upchuck, chuck up, barf, belch out, cast up, bring up, be sick, get sick, worship the porcelain god, disgorge, expectorate, clear the throat, hawk, spit, sputter, splutter, slobber, drivel, slaver, slabber, eructate, drool, unpack, unlade, unload, unship, offload, break bulk, dump, be let out, spew forth, erupt, ooze.

Snap

VB rap, snap, tap, knock, ping, click, clash, crack, crackle, crash, pop, slam, bang, blast, boom, clap, clang, clack, whack, wham, brustle, burst on the ear, crepitate, rump, blow up, blow, detonate.

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