Definition

1. Noun:
   • A dancer who performs tap dance: A person who dances using shoes with metal plates on the toes and heels to create rhythmic sounds.
   • A person who installs or uses a listening device: Someone who secretly connects a device to a telephone or telegraph line to monitor conversations.
   • A worker who cuts screw threads: A skilled worker, often a machinist, who uses a tap (a cutting tool) to create internal screw threads in a material.
   • A person who taps lightly and repeatedly: Someone who strikes a surface gently, often with a finger, in a repeated manner.
   • A tavern keeper who draws liquor: A person, typically the owner or server at a bar, who taps (draws liquid from) kegs or casks.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The tapper amazed the audience with his intricate footwork.
  • The police arrested the tapper for illegal surveillance.
  • The tapper carefully threaded the hole in the metal plate.
  • The constant noise from the finger tapper in the meeting was distracting.
  • The old tapper drew a perfect pint of ale from the cask.

Advanced Usage

• "Wiretapper": A more specific term for someone who illegally intercepts telephone or electronic communications.
  • The wiretapper was charged with violating federal privacy laws.
• "Telegraph tapper": Historically, a person who operated a telegraph key by tapping it.
  • The telegraph tapper sent the urgent message in Morse code.

Variants and Related Words

• Tap (verb/noun): The root action or tool from which "tapper" is derived.
• Tap-dancer (noun): A synonym for a tapper in the context of dance.
• Taproom (noun): The room in a tavern where the tapper serves drinks.

Synonyms

• For the dancer: Tap-dancer, hoofer.
• For the eavesdropper: Wiretapper, eavesdropper, bugger.
• For the worker: Threader, machinist.
• For the person who taps: Drummer, patterer.
• For the tavern keeper: Publican, barkeeper, bartender.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Compounds

• Tap into (phrasal verb): To access or make a connection to a resource. (Note: This uses the root verb "tap," not the noun "tapper").
  • The company hopes to tap into a new market.

Related Idioms

• On tap (idiom): Available for immediate use, often referring to drinks drawn from a keg.
  • We have several local beers on tap.
• Tap the glass (idiom): To lightly strike a drinking glass, often to get attention for a toast.
  • He tapped his glass to quiet the room.

Noun

1. a dancer who sounds out rhythms by using metal taps on the toes and heels of the shoes
2. someone who wiretaps a telephone or telegraph wire
3. a worker who uses a tap to cut screw threads
4. a person who strikes a surface lightly and usually repeatedly
   • finger tappers irritated her
5. a tavern keeper who taps kegs or casks