Definition

Noun: A tap house is a commercial establishment, specifically a building, that contains a bar and holds a legal license to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. It is a type of tavern or pub.

Usage

The term "tap house" refers to the physical establishment itself. It is used to describe a place where people go to drink beer, ale, and other alcoholic drinks, often directly from kegs or casks (taps).

Examples

• Noun:
  • We decided to meet at the old tap house on Main Street for a drink.
  • The new craft brewery also operates a popular tap house downtown.
  • This historic building was originally a tap house in the 18th century.

Advanced Usage

• As a descriptor: The term can be used attributively to specify the type of establishment.
  • The city has a vibrant tap house culture.

Variants and Related Words

• Tavern (n): An establishment licensed to sell alcoholic drinks, historically also providing food and lodging; a very close synonym.
• Pub (n): Short for "public house," a common term in British English for a similar establishment.
• Brewpub (n): A pub that brews its own beer on the premises.
• Saloon (n): A term, now somewhat dated, for a place where alcoholic drinks are sold and consumed.

Synonyms

• Public house
• Bar
• Inn (when it serves alcohol)
• Alehouse

Notes

The core meaning of "tap house" centers on its function as a licensed venue for selling and consuming alcohol. While it implies the serving of draught beer ("on tap"), the term broadly denotes the establishment as a whole. It does not refer to a private home or an unlicensed venue.

Noun

1. a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks