noun
1.
a sharp blow or smack, especially with the open hand or with something flat.
2.
a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack: the slap of the waves against the dock.
3.
a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.
verb (used with object)
4.
to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or with something flat.
5.
to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.
6.
to dash or cast forcibly: He slapped the package against the wall.
7.
to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often followed by on ): The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.
00:10
Slap
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
| to flee; abscond: |
adverb
Verb phrases 8.
Informal. directly; straight; smack: The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.
9.
Idioms slap down,
a.
to subdue, especially by a blow or by force; suppress.
b.
to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply: to slap down dissenting voices.
10.
slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure: He got away with a slap on the wrist.
Origin:
1625–35; < Low German slapp, slappe; of expressive orig.
1625–35; < Low German slapp, slappe; of expressive orig.
Related forms
slap·per, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To slap
Collins
World English Dictionary
slap (slæp) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a sharp blow or smack, as with the open hand, something flat, etc |
| 2. | the sound made by or as if by such a blow |
| 3. | a sharp rebuke; reprimand |
| 4. | informal (Brit) a bit of slap and tickle, slap and tickle sexual play |
| 5. | a slap in the face an insult or rebuff |
| 6. | a slap on the back congratulation |
| 7. | a slap on the wrist a light punishment or reprimand |
| —vb (when intr, | |
| 8. | (tr) to strike (a person or thing) sharply, as with the open hand or something flat |
| 9. | (tr) to bring down (the hand, something flat, etc) sharply |
| 10. | to strike (something) with or as if with a slap |
| 11. | informal chiefly (Brit) (tr) to apply in large quantities, haphazardly, etc: she slapped butter on the bread |
| 12. | slap on the back to congratulate |
| —adv | |
| 13. | exactly; directly: slap on time |
| 14. | forcibly or abruptly: to fall slap on the floor |
| [C17: from Low German slapp, German Schlappe, of imitative origin] | |
| 'slapper | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
slap
1632, probably of imitative origin, similar to Low Ger. slappe, Ger. Schlappe. The noun is recorded from 1648; fig. meaning "insult" is attested from 1736. Slapdash (1679) is first attested in Dryden. Slap-happy (1936) originally meant "punch-drunk." Slapshot in ice hockey is recorded from 1942. Slap
on the wrist "very mild punishment" dates from 1914.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The verdict proves once again that federal juries are willing to slap file sharers with monster awards.
The next stage of development will be to slap it onto a large object, and see how well it works.
We wanted to add value rather than slap on a fee for everyone.
And when the slap connected with his wet cheek, the loud clap stung my face in a phantom sort of way.
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