Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

taps into

 - 5 dictionary results

tap

2[tap] ,noun, verb, tapped, tap⋅ping.
–noun
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.
–verb (used with object)
11. to draw liquid from (a vessel or container).
12. to draw off (liquid) by removing or opening a tap or by piercing a container.
13. to draw the tap or plug from or pierce (a cask or other container).
14. 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.
15. to connect into secretly so as to receive the message or signal being transmitted: to tap a telephone wire or telephone.
16. to furnish (a cask, container, pipe, etc.) with a tap.
17. to cut a screw thread into the surface of (an opening).
18. to open outlets from (power lines, highways, pipes, etc.).
19. tap into, Informal. to gain access to; become friendly with: The candidate tapped into some wealthy supporters.
20. tap off, to remove (liquid, molten metal, etc.) from a keg, furnace, or the like: to tap off slag from a blast furnace.
21. on tap,
a. ready to be drawn and served, as liquor from a cask.
b. furnished with a tap or cock, as a barrel containing liquor.
c. Informal. ready for immediate use; available: There are numerous other projects on tap.

Origin:
bef. 1050; (n.) ME tappe, OE tæppa; c. D tap, OHG zapfo, ON tappi; (v.) ME tappen, OE tæppian; c. MLG, MD tappen, G zapfen, ON tappa


tap⋅pa⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To taps into
Slang Dictionary
tap (so) (for (sth))

  1. tv.
    to select someone for some purpose or position. : The committee tapped John to run for Congress.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

tap  (n.)
"stopper, faucet," O.E. tæppa, from P.Gmc. *tappon (cf. M.Du. tappe, Du. tap, O.H.G. zapfo, Ger. zapfen). Originally a tapering cylindrical peg (hence taproot, 1601). Meaning "device to listen in secretly on telephone calls" is from 1923, from the verb in this sense, originally (1869) with ref. to telegraph wires. Phrase on tap "ready for use" is recorded from 1483. The verb meaning "to supply with a tap" is from O.E. tæppian. Extended sense of "make use of" is first recorded 1575. Tap-room is from 1807. Tapped out "broke" is 1940s slang, perhaps from the notion of having tapped all one's acquaintances for loans already (cf. British slang on the tap "begging, making requests for loans," 1932).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 4tap
Function: noun
: a light usually audible blow; also : its sound
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

tap (tāp)
n.
The removal of fluid from a body cavity. v. tapped, tap·ping, taps

  1. To withdraw fluid from a body cavity, as with a trocar and cannula, hollow needle, or catheter.

  2. To strike lightly with the finger or a hammerlike instrument, as in percussion or to elicit a tendon reflex.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see taps into on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: