tap

1. to strike with a light but audible blow or blows; hit with repeated, slight blows:

   He tapped the door twice.

2. to make, put, etc., by tapping:

   She tapped a nail into the wall to hang a picture.

3. to strike (the fingers, a foot, a pencil, etc.) upon or against something, especially with repeated light blows:

   Stop tapping your feet!

4. Basketball. to strike (a ball in the air) in the direction of a teammate or of the basket.
5. Digital Technology.
   1. to make a selection or enter information on a touchscreen by tapping (a button, icon, or the like):

      To return to the previous page, tap the back arrow at the bottom of the screen.

   2. to enter (data) by tapping on a keyboard:

      For a breathless instant her capable fingers tapped codes into the company server.

6. to recruit, appoint, or select for a particular role or task:

   After he’d cooked there for 20 years, the restaurant owner finally tapped him for chef.

7. to add a thickness of leather to the sole or heel of (a boot or shoe), as in repairing.

1. to strike lightly but audibly, as to attract attention (usually followed by on or against ):

   The prisoners communicated by tapping on their cell walls.

   The teacher tapped on the blackboard to indicate that the time was up.

2. to strike light blows:

   The geologist stopped tapping with her hammer to examine a bit of rock under a magnifying glass.

3. to type or enter information on a keyboard:

   He tapped away at his computer without looking up.

4. to perform a tap dance.

1. a light, sometimes audible blow:

   I felt a tap on my shoulder.

2. the sound made by this.
3. a piece of metal attached to the toe or heel of a shoe, as for reinforcement or for making the tapping of a dancer more audible.
4. Basketball. an act or instance of tapping the ball:

   Hanson got the tap from our center, who, 6′9″ tall, couldn't lose a jump ball.

5. a thickness of leather added to the sole or heel of a boot or shoe, as in repairing.

verb phrase

1. 1. (in wrestling, karate, or the like) to acknowledge defeat by tapping on the mat:

      Finally, trapped in the chokehold, he was forced to tap out for the first time in his career.

   2. to concede or withdraw from an undertaking one feels unable to continue; quit:

      The owners have tapped out of the company after nearly 16 years, although they'll retain a minority interest.

   3. to produce by means of a series of taps:

      She tapped out the drum rhythm on the table.

      The pilot tapped out a signal in Morse code.

   4. to type or enter on a keyboard:

      He used to tap out his weekly column on an old Olivetti.

   5. to remove by tapping:

      All air bubbles should be tapped out before clamping the end of the tube.

1. a cylindrical stick, long plug, or stopper for closing an opening through which liquid is drawn, as in a cask; spigot.
2. a faucet or cock.
3. the liquor drawn through a particular tap.
4. British. a taphouse or taproom.
5. a tool for cutting screw threads into the cylindrical surface of a round opening.
6. Surgery. the withdrawal of fluid:

   spinal tap.

7. a hole made in tapping, as one in a pipe to furnish connection for a branch pipe.
8. Electricity. a connection brought out of a winding at some point between its extremities, for controlling the voltage ratio.
9. Informal. an act or instance of wiretapping.
10. Archaic. a particular kind or quality of drink.

1. to draw liquid from (a vessel or container).
2. to draw off (liquid) by removing or opening a tap or by piercing a container.
3. to draw the tap or plug from or pierce (a cask or other container).
4. to penetrate, open up, reach into, etc., for the purpose of using something or drawing something off; begin to use:

   to tap one's resources.

5. to connect into secretly so as to receive the message or signal being transmitted (sometimes used with into ): Here’s how to tell if your neighbor is tapping into your cable service.

   Authorities tapped his phone line, suspecting that he was a spy.

   Here’s how to tell if your neighbor is tapping into your cable service.

6. to obtain money or other resources from:

   Before attempting the project we tapped her for some quick tips on common mistakes to avoid.

   He finally decided to tap his father for a loan.

7. to furnish (a cask, container, pipe, etc.) with a tap.
8. to cut a screw thread into the surface of (an opening).
9. to open outlets from (power lines, highways, pipes, etc.).

verb phrase

1. 1. to exhaust or use up the supply of:

      If we overfish the oceans, we will tap out the resources our ancestors have relied on for thousands of years.

   2. to drain or exhaust the resources of (usually used in the passive and often followed by of ):

      When the recession hit, we were tapped out and deeply in debt.

      Sorry I can’t contribute much here—I’m all tapped out of ideas.

2. Informal.
   1. to draw on or bring into play:

      You can overcome many obstacles if you just tap into the strength and skills you already possess!

   2. to access and make profitable use of:

      We are well placed to help clients tap into these emerging opportunities.

3. to remove (liquid, molten metal, etc.) from a keg, furnace, or the like:

   to tap off slag from a blast furnace.