lap
/læp/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- The upper side of the thighs of a seated person: The flat area formed by the thighs when a person is sitting down.
- A single circuit around a track or course: One complete trip around a racecourse or a prescribed path.
- A hanging or overlapping part: A part of a garment or material that lies over another part.
- The act of taking liquid into the mouth with the tongue: The action of licking up a liquid.
Verb:
- To take up (liquid) with the tongue: To drink by licking.
- To wash or flow against gently: For water to move and touch something with a light, repetitive motion.
- To overtake (a competitor in a race) by being at least one full circuit ahead: To pass another competitor who is one or more complete laps behind.
- To lie partly over or alongside something: To overlap.
Usage
- As a noun (physical area):
- The cat settled comfortably in her lap.
- She folded her hands in her lap.
- As a noun (circuit):
- He finished the final lap in record time.
- The race is 50 laps long.
- As a verb (drinking):
- The kitten lapped the milk from the saucer.
- As a verb (water movement):
- Waves gently lapped the shore.
Examples
- Noun Examples:
- She held the book open on her lap. (The flat area of the thighs)
- The runner is in the lead by two laps. (Circuits of a track)
- Ensure a good lap of the roofing material to prevent leaks. (Overlapping part)
- Verb Examples:
- The dog lapped water noisily from its bowl. (Drinking with the tongue)
- The champion managed to lap three other cars during the race. (Overtaking by a full circuit)
- The tiles should lap over each other by about an inch. (To overlap)
Advanced Usage
- "In the lap of luxury": Living in extremely comfortable and wealthy conditions.
- After winning the lottery, they lived in the lap of luxury.
- "Drop/fall into someone's lap": To be acquired by someone without any effort on their part.
- The perfect job just fell into his lap.
- "Lap up": To accept or enjoy something eagerly and uncritically.
- The audience lapped up every word of his inspiring speech.
Variants and Related Words
- Overlap (verb/noun): To lie over and partly cover something else; the area where this happens.
- The two theories overlap in several areas.
- Lapel (noun): The part on each side of a coat or jacket immediately below the collar that is folded back.
- He wore a flower on his lapel.
Synonyms
- Noun (thigh area): Knees.
- Noun (circuit): Circuit, round, loop.
- Verb (drink): Lick, slurp.
- Verb (overlap): Overlie, overlay.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Lap up: To consume or accept something eagerly.
- The students lapped up the new information.
- Lap over: To extend over and cover part of something else; to overlap.
- The fabric is designed to lap over the edge.
Related Idioms
- In the lap of the gods: Beyond human control; dependent on fate or chance.
- The outcome of the surgery is in the lap of the gods now.
Noun
- touching with the tongue
- the dog's laps were warm and wet
- movement once around a course
- he drove an extra lap just for insurance
- a flap that lies over another part
- the lap of the shingles should be at least ten inches
- the part of a piece of clothing that covers the thighs
- his lap was covered with food stains
- an area of control or responsibility
- the job fell right in my lap
- the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
- he picked up the little girl and plopped her down in his lap
Verb
- wash or flow against
- the waves laved the shore
- take up with the tongue
- The cat lapped up the milk
- the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast
- move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound
- The bubbles swoshed around in the glass
- The curtain swooshed open
- pass the tongue over
- the dog licked her hand
- lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another