1.  tap(n = noun.event) pat, rap - the sound made by a gentle blow;
is a kind of sound
has particulars: pitter-patter
Derived forms verb tap₃, verb tap₈, verb tap₇

2.  tap(n = noun.event) rap, strike - a gentle blow;
is a kind of blow, bump
Derived forms verb tap₃, verb tap₇

3.  tap(n = noun.artifact) hydrant, water faucet, water tap - a faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask;
is a kind of faucet, spigot, plumbing fixture
Derived form noun tapster₁

4.  tap(n = noun.artifact) - a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing);
is a kind of plate
Derived form verb tap₉

5.  tap(n = noun.artifact) - a tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads;
is a kind of tool
Derived form verb tap₁

6.  tap(n = noun.artifact) spigot - a plug for a bunghole in a cask;
is a kind of plug, stopper, stopple
is a part of barrel, cask
Derived forms verb tap₁₁, verb tap₁₀, verb tap₆, noun tapster₁

7.  tap(n = noun.act) wiretap - the act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information;
is a kind of investigating, investigation
Derived form verb tap₅

8.  tap(n = noun.act) dab, pat - a light touch or stroke;
is a kind of touch, touching
Derived forms verb tap₃, verb tap₇

1.  tap(v = verb.contact) - cut a female screw thread with a tap;
is one way to cut
Derived forms noun tap₅, noun tapper₃
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

2.  tap(v = verb.possession) - draw from or dip into to get something; "tap one's memory"; "tap a source of money"
is one way to draw, draw off, take out, withdraw
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something; Somebody ----s something PP

3.  tap(v = verb.contact) tip - strike lightly; "He tapped me on the shoulder"
is one way to strike
Derived forms noun tap₈, noun tap₁, noun tap₂, noun tapper₂
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody PP; Somebody ----s something PP

4.  tap(v = verb.consumption) exploit - draw from; make good use of; "we must exploit the resources we are given wisely"
is one way to apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

5.  tap(v = verb.perception) bug, intercept, wiretap - tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information; "The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy"; "Is this hotel room bugged?"
is one way to eavesdrop, listen in
Derived forms noun tap₇, noun tapper₄
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

6.  tap(v = verb.possession) - furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it; "tap a cask of wine"
is one way to furnish, provide, render, supply
Derived forms noun tap₆, noun tapper₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

7.  tap(v = verb.perception) knock, pink, rap - make light, repeated taps on a surface; "he was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently"
is one way to go, sound
Derived forms noun tap₈, noun tap₁, noun tap₂, noun tapping₁
Sample sentences: Something ----s; Somebody ----s PP

8.  tap(v = verb.motion) - walk with a tapping sound;
is one way to walk
Derived form noun tap₁
Sample sentences: The children tap to the playground

9.  tap(v = verb.motion) tapdance - dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes; "Glover tapdances better than anybody"
is one way to dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe
Derived forms noun tap₄, noun tapper₅
Sample sentences: Sam and Sue tap

10.  tap(v = verb.motion) - draw (liquor) from a tap; "tap beer in a bar"
is one way to draw, take out
Derived forms noun tap₆, noun tapper₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

11.  tap(v = verb.contact) - pierce in order to draw a liquid from; "tap a maple tree for its syrup"; "tap a keg of beer"
is one way to pierce
Derived form noun tap₆
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

12.  tap(v = verb.communication) beg, solicit - make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently; "Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce"; "My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities"
is one way to bespeak, call for, quest, request
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something from somebody

1.  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]

2.  To put a new sole or heel on; as, to tap shoes. [1913 Webster]

1.  A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat. Addison. [1913 Webster]

2.  A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel. [1913 Webster]

3.  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]

   To strike a gentle blow. [1913 Webster]

1.  A hole or pipe through which liquor is drawn. [1913 Webster]

2.  A plug or spile for stopping a hole pierced in a cask, or the like; a faucet. [1913 Webster]

3.  Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; as, a liquor of the same tap. [1913 Webster]

4.  A place where liquor is drawn for drinking; a taproom; a bar. [1913 Webster]

5.  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]

1.  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]

2.  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]

3.  To draw, or cause to flow, by piercing. Shak. [1913 Webster]
"He has been tapping his liquors." [1913 Webster]

4.  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]

5.  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]

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

on tap, spinal tap, tap dance, tap dancer, tap dancing, tap house, tap out, tap water, tap wrench, water tap