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lap

22 dictionary results for: lap

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

lap1

[lap] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	the front part of the human body from the waist to the knees when in a sitting position.

2.	the part of the clothing that lies on the front portion of the body from the waist to the knees when one sits.

3.	a place, environment, or situation of rest or nurture: the lap of luxury.

4.	area of responsibility, care, charge, or control: They dropped the problem right in his lap.

5.	a hollow place, as a hollow among hills.

6.	the front part of a skirt, esp. as held up to contain something.

7.	a part of a garment that extends over another: the lap of a coat.

8.	a loose border or fold.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME lappe, OE læppa; c. D lap; akin to G lappen, ON leppr rag, patch

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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lap2

[lap] Pronunciation Key verb, lapped, lap·ping, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to fold over or around something; wrap or wind around something: to lap a bandage around one's finger.

2.	to enwrap in something; wrap up; clothe.

3.	to envelop or enfold: lapped in luxury.

4.	to lay (something) partly over something underneath; lay (things) together, one partly over another; overlap.

5.	to lie partly over (something underneath).

6.	to get a lap or more ahead of (a competitor) in racing, as on an oval track.

7.	to cut or polish with a lap.

8.	to join, as by scarfing, to form a single piece with the same dimensions throughout.

9.	to change (cotton, wool, etc.) into a compressed layer or sheet.

–verb (used without object)

10.	to fold or wind around something.

11.	to lie partly over or alongside of something else.

12.	to lie upon and extend beyond a thing; overlap.

13.	to extend beyond a limit.

–noun

14.	the act of lapping.

15.	the amount of material required to go around a thing once.

16.	a complete circuit of a course in racing or in walking for exercise: to run a lap.

17.	an overlapping part.

18.	the extent or amount of overlapping.

19.	a rotating wheel or disk holding an abrasive or polishing powder on its surface, used for gems, cutlery, etc.

20.	a compressed layer or sheet of cotton, wool, or other fibrous material usually wound on an iron rod or rolled into a cylindrical form for further processing during carding.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME lappen to fold, wrap; c. D lappen to patch, mend; akin to lap¹

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

lap3

[lap] Pronunciation Key verb, lapped, lap·ping, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	(of water) to wash against or beat upon (something) with a light, slapping or splashing sound: Waves lapped the shoreline.

2.	to take in (liquid) with the tongue; lick in: to lap water from a bowl.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to wash or move in small waves with a light, slapping or splashing sound: The water lapped gently against the mooring.

4.	to take up liquid with the tongue; lick up a liquid.

–noun

5.	the act of lapping liquid.

6.	the lapping of water against something.

7.	the sound of this: the quiet lap of the sea on the rocks.

8.	something lapped up, as liquid food for dogs.

—Verb phrase

lap up,

a.	Informal. to receive enthusiastically: The audience lapped up his monologue.

b.	to take in (all of a liquid) with the tongue; drink up: The cat lapped up her milk and looked for more.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME lappen, unexplained var. of lapen, OE lapian; c. MLG lapen, OHG laffan; akin to L lambere, Gk láptein to lick, lap

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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lap4

[lap] Pronunciation Key

–verb Archaic.

pt. of leap.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

lap¹ (lāp) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. The front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person.
2. The portion of a garment that covers the lap.
A hanging or flaplike part, especially of a garment.
An area of responsibility, interest, or control: an opportunity that dropped in his lap.

[Middle English lappe, lappet, lap, from Old English læppa, lappet.]

lap'ful' n.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

lap²   (lāp) Pronunciation Key
v.   lapped, lap·ping, laps

v.   tr.

1. To place or lay (something) so as to overlap another: lapped the roof tiles so that water would run off.
2. To lie partly over or on: each shingle lapping the next; shadows that lapped the wall.
3. To polish (a surface) until smooth.
4. To hone (two mating parts) against each other until closely fitted.
To fold (something) over onto itself: a cloth edge that had been lapped and sewn to make a hem.
To wrap or wind around (something); encircle.
To envelop in something; swathe: models who were lapped in expensive furs.
To join (pieces, as of wood) by means of a scarf or lap joint.
Sports To get ahead of (an opponent) in a race by one or more complete circuits of the course, as in running, or by two or more lengths of pool in swimming.
To convert (cotton or other fibers) into a sheet or layer.
1. To polish (a surface) until smooth.
2. To hone (two mating parts) against each other until closely fitted.

v. intr.

To lie partly on or over something; overlap.
To form a lap or fold.
To wind around or enfold something.

1. A part that overlaps.
2. The amount by which one part overlaps another.
3. One complete round or circuit, especially of a racetrack.
4. One complete length of a straight course, as of a swimming pool.
5. A length, as of rope, required to make one complete turn around something.
6. The act of lapping or encircling.
1. One complete round or circuit, especially of a racetrack.
2. One complete length of a straight course, as of a swimming pool.
3. A length, as of rope, required to make one complete turn around something.
4. The act of lapping or encircling.
A segment or stage, as of a trip.
1. A length, as of rope, required to make one complete turn around something.
2. The act of lapping or encircling.
A continuous band or layer of cotton, flax, or other fiber.
A wheel, disk, or slab of leather or metal, either stationary or rotating, used for polishing and smoothing.

[Middle English lappen, from lappe, lap, lappet; see lap¹.]

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

lap³   (lāp) Pronunciation Key
v.   lapped, lap·ping, laps

v.   tr.

To take in (a liquid or food) by lifting it with the tongue.
To wash or slap against with soft liquid sounds: waves lapping the side of the boat.

v. intr.

To take in a liquid or food with the tongue.
To wash against something with soft liquid sounds.

1. The act or an instance of lapping.
2. The amount taken in by lapping.
The sound of lapping.
A watery food or drink.

Phrasal Verb(s):
lap up
To receive eagerly or greedily: lapping up praise.

[Middle English lapen, from Old English lapian.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
lap (n.)

O.E. læppa "skirt or flap of a garment," from P.Gmc. *lapp- (cf. M.Du. lappe, O.H.G. lappa, Ger. Lappen "rag, shred," O.N. leppr "patch, rag"), from PIE base *leb- "be loose, hang down." In 17c. the word was a euphemism for "female pudenda." Sense of "lower part of a shirt" led to that of "upper legs of seated person" (c.1290). Lapdog is from 1645; figurative sense of "subservient person" is from 1980s. Lap dance first recorded 1993.

"To lap dance, you undress, sit your client down, order him to stay still and fully clothed, then hover over him, making a motion that you have perfected by watching Mister Softee ice cream dispensers." ["New Yorker"]

Phrase lap of luxury first recorded 1802. Laptop as a type of portable computer is 1984, on model of desktop.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
lap (v.1)

"take up liquid with the tongue," from O.E. lapian, from P.Gmc. *lapajanan (cf. O.H.G. laffen "to lick," O.S. lepil, Ger. Löffel "spoon"), from PIE imitative base *lab- (cf. Gk. laptein "to sip, lick," L. lambere "to lick"). Meaning "splash gently" first recorded 1823, based on similarity of sound.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
lap (v.2)

"to lay one part over another," c.1225, from lap (n.). The sense of "to get a lap ahead (of someone) on a track" is from 1847, on notion of "overlapping." The noun meaning "a turn around a track" (1861) is from this sense.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

lap
noun
1.	the upper side of the thighs of a seated person; "he picked up the little girl and plopped her down in his lap"
2.	an area of control or responsibility; "the job fell right in my lap"
3.	the part of a piece of clothing that covers the thighs; "his lap was covered with food stains"
4.	a flap that lies over another part; "the lap of the shingles should be at least ten inches"
5.	movement once around a course; "he drove an extra lap just for insurance"
6.	touching with the tongue; "the dog's laps were warm and wet" [syn: lick]
verb
1.	lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
2.	pass the tongue over; "the dog licked her hand" [syn: lick]
3.	move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound; "The bubbles swoshed around in the glass"; "The curtain swooshed open"
4.	take up with the tongue; "The cat lapped up the milk"; "the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast"
5.	wash or flow against; "the waves laved the shore" [syn: lave]

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

lap

In addition to the idioms beginning with lap, also see drop in someone's lap.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

LAP
LISP Assembly Program. The assembly language embedded into early Lisp. LAP was also used by the Liar compiler for MIT Scheme and MACLISP.
[Sammet 1969, p. 597].
(1994-11-01)

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Lap

Lap\, n. [OE. lappe, AS. l[ae]ppa; akin to D. lap patch, piece, G. lappen, OHG. lappa, Dan. lap, Sw. lapp.]

1. The loose part of a coat; the lower part of a garment that plays loosely; a skirt; an apron. --Chaucer.

2. An edge; a border; a hem, as of cloth. --Chaucer.

If he cuts off but a lap of truth's garment, his heart smites him. --Fuller.

3. The part of the clothing that lies on the knees or thighs when one sits down; that part of the person thus covered; figuratively, a place of rearing and fostering; as, to be reared in the lap of luxury.

Men expect that happiness should drop into their laps. --Tillotson.

4. That part of any substance or fixture which extends over, or lies upon, or by the side of, a part of another; as, the lap of a board; also, the measure of such extension over or upon another thing.

Note: The lap of shingles or slates in roofing is the distance one course extends over the second course below, the distance over the course immediately below being called the cover.

5. (Steam Engine) The amount by which a slide valve at its half stroke overlaps a port in the seat, being equal to the distance the valve must move from its mid stroke position in order to begin to open the port. Used alone, lap refers to outside lap. See Outside lap (below).

6. The state or condition of being in part extended over or by the side of something else; or the extent of the overlapping; as, the second boat got a lap of half its length on the leader.

7. One circuit around a race track, esp. when the distance is a small fraction of a mile; as, to run twenty laps; to win by three laps. See Lap, to fold, 2.

8. In card playing and other games, the points won in excess of the number necessary to complete a game; -- so called when they are counted in the score of the following game.

9. (Cotton Manuf.) A sheet, layer, or bat, of cotton fiber prepared for the carding machine.

10. (Mach.) A piece of brass, lead, or other soft metal, used to hold a cutting or polishing powder in cutting glass, gems, and the like, or in polishing cutlery, etc. It is usually in the form of wheel or disk, which revolves on a vertical axis.

Lap joint, a joint made by one layer, part, or piece, overlapping another, as in the scarfing of timbers.

Lap weld, a lap joint made by welding together overlapping edges or ends.

Inside lap (Steam Engine), lap of the valve with respect to the exhaust port.

Outside lap, lap with respect to the admission, or steam, port.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Lap

Lap\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Lapping.]

1. To rest or recline in a lap, or as in a lap.

To lap his head on lady's breast. --Praed.

2. To cut or polish with a lap, as glass, gems, cutlery, etc. See 1st Lap, 10.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Lap

Lap\, v. t. [OE. lappen to fold (see Lap, n.); cf. also OE. wlappen, perh. another form of wrappen, E, wrap.]

1. To fold; to bend and lay over or on something; as, to lap a piece of cloth.

2. To wrap or wind around something.

About the paper . . . I lapped several times a slender thread of very black silk. --Sir I. Newton.

3. To infold; to hold as in one's lap; to cherish.

Her garment spreads, and laps him in the folds. --Dryden.

4. To lay or place over anything so as to partly or wholly cover it; as, to lap one shingle over another; to lay together one partly over another; as, to lap weather-boards; also, to be partly over, or by the side of (something); as, the hinder boat lapped the foremost one.

5. (Carding & Spinning) To lay together one over another, as fleeces or slivers for further working.

To lap boards, shingles, etc., to lay one partly over another.

To lap timbers, to unite them in such a way as to preserve the same breadth and depth throughout, as by scarfing. --Weale.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Lap

Lap\, v. i. To be turned or folded; to lie partly upon or by the side of something, or of one another; as, the cloth laps back; the boats lap; the edges lap.

The upper wings are opacous; at their hinder ends, where they lap over, transparent, like the wing of a flay. --Grew.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Lap

Lap\, v. i. [OE. lappen, lapen, AS. lapian; akin to LG. lappen, OHG. laffan, Icel. lepja, Dan. lade, Sw. l["a]ppja, L. lambere; cf. Gr. ?, W. llepio. Cf. Lambent.]

1. To take up drink or food with the tongue; to drink or feed by licking up something.

The dogs by the River Nilus's side, being thirsty, lap hastily as they run along the shore. --Sir K. Digby.

2. To make a sound like that produced by taking up drink with the tongue.

I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, And the wild water lapping on the crag. --Tennyson.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Lap

Lap\, v. t. To take into the mouth with the tongue; to lick up with a quick motion of the tongue.

They 'II take suggestion as a cat laps milk. --Shak.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Lap

Lap\, n. 1. The act of lapping with, or as with, the tongue; as, to take anything into the mouth with a lap.

2. The sound of lapping.

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American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source - Share This

lap
laparotomy

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American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source - Share This

LAP
leukocyte alkaline phosphatase

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