Lap

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Lap, n. [OE. lappe, AS. læppa; akin to D. lap patch, piece, G. lappen, OHG. lappa, Dan. lap, Sw. lapp.].

•  The loose part of a coat; the lower part of a garment that plays loosely; a skirt; an apron.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]
•  An edge; a border; a hem, as of cloth.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

  "If he cuts off but a lap of truth's garment, his heart smites him."  [1913 Webster]
•  The part of the clothing that lies on the knees or thighs when one sits down; that part of the person thus covered; figuratively, a place of rearing and fostering; as, to be reared in the lap of luxury.  [1913 Webster]

  "Men expect that happiness should drop into their laps."  [1913 Webster]
•  That part of any substance or fixture which extends over, or lies upon, or by the side of, a part of another; as, the lap of a board; also, the measure of such extension over or upon another thing.  [1913 Webster]

  " The lap of shingles or slates in roofing is the distance one course extends over the second course below, the distance over the course immediately below being called the cover."  [1913 Webster]
•  The amount by which a slide valve at its half stroke overlaps a port in the seat, being equal to the distance the valve must move from its mid stroke position in order to begin to open the port. Used alone, lap refers to outside lap. See Outside lap (below).  [1913 Webster]
•  The state or condition of being in part extended over or by the side of something else; or the extent of the overlapping; as, the second boat got a lap of half its length on the leader.  [1913 Webster]
•  One circuit around a race track, esp. when the distance is a small fraction of a mile; as, to run twenty laps; to win by three laps. See Lap, to fold, 2.  [1913 Webster]
•  In card playing and other games, the points won in excess of the number necessary to complete a game; -- so called when they are counted in the score of the following game.  [1913 Webster]
•  A sheet, layer, or bat, of cotton fiber prepared for the carding machine.  [1913 Webster]
•  A piece of brass, lead, or other soft metal, used to hold a cutting or polishing powder in cutting glass, gems, and the like, or in polishing cutlery, etc. It is usually in the form of wheel or disk, which revolves on a vertical axis.  [1913 Webster]

Lap joint, a joint made by one layer, part, or piece, overlapping another, as in the scarfing of timbers. -- Lap weld, a lap joint made by welding together overlapping edges or ends. -- Inside lap (Steam Engine), lap of the valve with respect to the exhaust port. -- Outside lap, lap with respect to the admission, or steam, port.

Lap, v. t. 

•  To rest or recline in a lap, or as in a lap.  [1913 Webster]

  "To lap his head on lady's breast."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cut or polish with a lap, as glass, gems, cutlery, etc. See 1st Lap, 10.  [1913 Webster]

Lap, v. t. [OE. lappen to fold (see Lap, n.); cf. also OE. wlappen, perh. another form of wrappen, E, wrap.].

•  To fold; to bend and lay over or on something; as, to lap a piece of cloth.  [1913 Webster]
•  To wrap or wind around something.  [1913 Webster]

  "About the paper . . . I lapped several times a slender thread of very black silk."  [1913 Webster]
•  To infold; to hold as in one's lap; to cherish.  [1913 Webster]

  "Her garment spreads, and laps him in the folds."  [1913 Webster]
•  To lay or place over anything so as to partly or wholly cover it; as, to lap one shingle over another; to lay together one partly over another; as, to lap weather-boards; also, to be partly over, or by the side of (something); as, the hinder boat lapped the foremost one.  [1913 Webster]
•  To lay together one over another, as fleeces or slivers for further working.  [1913 Webster]

To lap boards, shingles, etc., to lay one partly over another. -- To lap timbers, to unite them in such a way as to preserve the same breadth and depth throughout, as by scarfing. Weale.

Lap, v. i. 

 To be turned or folded; to lie partly upon or by the side of something, or of one another; as, the cloth laps back; the boats lap; the edges lap.  [1913 Webster]
"The upper wings are opacous; at their hinder ends, where they lap over, transparent, like the wing of a flay."  [1913 Webster]

Lap, v. i. [OE. lappen, lapen, AS. lapian; akin to LG. lappen, OHG. laffan, Icel. lepja, Dan. lade, Sw. läppja, L. lambere; cf. Gr. , W. llepio. Cf. Lambent.].

•  To take up drink or food with the tongue; to drink or feed by licking up something.  [1913 Webster]

  "The dogs by the River Nilus's side, being thirsty, lap hastily as they run along the shore."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make a sound like that produced by taking up drink with the tongue.  [1913 Webster]

  "I heard the ripple washing in the reeds,
  And the wild water lapping on the crag."  [1913 Webster]

Lap, v. t. 

 To take into the mouth with the tongue; to lick up with a quick motion of the tongue.  [1913 Webster]
"They 'II take suggestion as a cat laps milk."  [1913 Webster]

Lap, n. 

•  The act of lapping with, or as with, the tongue; as, to take anything into the mouth with a lap.  [1913 Webster]
•  The sound of lapping.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Lap, n.
1 a the front of the body from the waist to the knees of a sitting person (sat on her lap; caught it in his lap). b the clothing, esp. a skirt, covering the lap. c the front of a skirt held up to catch or contain something.
2 a hollow among hills.
3 a hanging flap on a garment, a saddle, etc.

Idiom

in (or on) a person's lap as a person's responsibility. in the lap of the gods (of an event etc.) open to chance; beyond human control. in the lap of luxury in extremely luxurious surroundings. lap-dog a small pet dog. lap robe US a travelling-rug.

Derivative

lapful n. (pl. -fuls).

Lap, n. & v.
--n.
1 a one circuit of a racetrack etc. b a section of a journey etc. (finally we were on the last lap).
2 a an amount of overlapping. b an overlapping or projecting part.
3 a a layer or sheet (of cotton etc. being made) wound on a roller. b a single turn of rope, silk, thread, etc., round a drum or reel.
4 a rotating disk for polishing a gem or metal.
--v. (lapped, lapping)
1 tr. lead or overtake (a competitor in a race) by one or more laps.
2 tr. (often foll. by about, round) coil, fold, or wrap (a garment etc.) round esp. a person.
3 tr. (usu. foll. by in) enfold or swathe (a person) in wraps etc.
4 tr. (as lapped adj.) (usu. foll. by in) protectively encircled; enfolded caressingly.
5 tr. surround (a person) with an influence etc.
6 intr. (usu. foll. by over) project; overlap.
7 tr. cause to overlap.
8 tr. polish (a gem etc.) with a lap.

Idiom

half-lap = lap joint. lap joint the joining of rails, shafts, etc., by halving the thickness of each at the joint and fitting them together. lap of honour a ceremonial circuit of a football pitch, a track, etc., by a winner or winners. lap-strake n. a clinker-built boat.
--adj. clinker-built. lap-weld v.tr. weld with overlapping edges.
--n. such a weld.

Lap, v. & n.
--v. (lapped, lapping)
1 tr. a (also absol.) (usu. of an animal) drink (liquid) with the tongue. b (usu. foll. by up, down) consume (liquid) greedily. c (usu. foll. by up) consume (gossip, praise, etc.) greedily.
2 a tr. (of water) move or beat upon (a shore) with a rippling sound as of lapping. b intr. (of waves etc.) move in ripples; make a lapping sound.
--n.
1 a the process or an act of lapping. b the amount of liquid taken up.
2 the sound of wavelets on a beach.
3 liquid food for dogs.
4 sl. a a weak beverage. b any liquor.

Etymology

OE lapian f. Gmc

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Lap

n. One of the most important organs of the female system -- an admirable provision of nature for the repose of infancy, but chiefly useful in rural festivities to support plates of cold chicken and heads of adult males. The male of our species has a rudimentary lap, imperfectly developed and in no way contributing to the animal's substantial welfare.

THESAURUS

Lap

Le Mans, adjoin, air race, ambit, anteriority, apparel, applique, arch over, array, attire, automobile race, babble, be the bellwether, beacon, beat, bedeck, bedrape, befringe, bestraddle, bestride, beverage, bib, bicycle race, bind, boat race, bold front, border, bound, box, brave face, brave front, breath, bridge, brush, bubble, bumper, bundle, bundle up, burble, caress, case, catch up with, circle, circuit, circuiteer, circulate, circumambulate, circummigrate, circumnavigate, circumvent, close, close the circle, clothe, coat, coating, collop, come full circle, come up to, come up with, compass, compass about, contact, contest of speed, covering, cuddle, cut, cutaneous sense, cycle, dash, deal, deck, derby, describe a circle, dight, disk, display, dog race, draft, drag race, drain the cup, dram, drape, drench, dress, drink, drink bottoms-up, drink deep, drink hard, drink off, drink up, dud, edge, embay, embosom, embox, embrace, encapsulate, encase, encircle, enclasp, enclose, enclothe, encompass, endue, endurance race, enfold, enframe, enrobe, enshroud, envelop, environ, enwrap, extend over, facade, face, facet, facia, feel, feeling, feuille, film, fingertip caress, flank, flap, flick, fly, foil, fold, follow strong drink, footrace, fore, forefront, foreground, forehand, foreland, forepart, forequarter, foreside, foreword, frame, fringe, front, front elevation, front man, front matter, front page, front view, frontage, frontal, frontier, frontispiece, full circle, gain on, gain upon, garb, gargle, garment, get ahead of, get before, girdle, girdle the globe, glance, go about, go around, go before, go round, go the round, graze, grog, guggle, guide, gulp, gurgle, guzzle, gyre, habilitate, hand-mindedness, hang over, have the start, head, head the line, heading, heat, hem, hurdle race, imbibe, imbricate, imbrication, invest, involve, jut, kiss, knock back, lambency, lamella, lamina, laminated glass, laminated wood, lap over, lap up, lapping, lave, lead, lead the dance, lead the way, leaf, leave behind, leave standing, libation, lick, lie over, light the way, light touch, line, lip, list, loop, make a circuit, marathon, marathon race, march, marge, margin, marginate, match race, membrane, motorcycle race, mouth, muffle up, nestle, nip, nuzzle, obstacle race, obverse, orbit, outpace, outrun, outsail, outstrip, overarch, overhang, overhaul, overlap, overlapping, overlay, overlayer, overlie, override, overtake, pace, pack, package, pane, panel, pass, patina, peel, peg, pellicle, plait, plank, plash, plate, plating, ply, plywood, portion, potation, potato race, precede, preface, prefix, priority, proscenium, pull, purfle, purl, quaff, race, rag out, raiment, rasher, regatta, relay, relay race, revolution, revolve, ride, rim, ripple, road race, robe, round, round trip, rounds, rub, run, sack race, safety glass, scum, sense of touch, set off, set the pace, sheathe, sheet, shingle, shroud, side, sip, skin, skirt, slab, slat, slice, slosh, slurp, smother, snort, snuggle, soak, soak up, span, spearhead, speedway race, spiral, splash, sponge up, sprint, sprint race, stand first, stock-car race, stroke, suck, sup, surround, swaddle, swash, swathe, swig, swill, swish, table, tablet, tactile sense, taction, take the lead, tap, tentative poke, three-legged race, tipple, tire, tongue, tope, torch race, toss down, toss off, tot, touch, tour, track race, trill, trim, turn, veneer, verge, wafer, walk, wash, washing, wheel, whisper, window dressing, wrap, wrap about, wrap up, yacht race

ROGET THESAURUS

Lap

Abode

N abode, dwelling, lodging, domicile, residence, apartment, place, digs, pad, address, habitation, where one's lot is cast, local habitation, berth, diggings, seat, lap, sojourn, housing, quarters, headquarters, resiance, tabernacle, throne, ark, home, fatherland, country, homestead, homestall, fireside, hearth, hearth stone, chimney corner, inglenook, ingle side, harem, seraglio, zenana, household gods, lares et penates, roof, household, housing, dulce domum, paternal domicile, native soil, native land, habitat, range, stamping ground, haunt, hangout, biosphere, environment, ecological niche, nest, nidus, snuggery, arbor, bower, lair, den, cave, hole, hiding place, cell, sanctum sanctorum, aerie, eyrie, eyry, rookery, hive, covert, resort, retreat, perch, roost, nidification, kala jagah, bivouac, camp, encampment, cantonment, castrametation, barrack, casemate, casern, tent, building, chamber, xenodochium, tenement, messuage, farm, farmhouse, grange, hacienda, toft, cot, cabin, hut, chalet, croft, shed, booth, stall, hovel, bothy, shanty, dugout, wigwam, pen, barn, bawn, kennel, sty, doghold, cote, coop, hutch, byre, cow house, cow shed, stable, dovecote, columbary, columbarium, shippen, igloo, iglu, jacal, lacustrine dwelling, lacuslake dwelling, lacuspile dwelling, log cabin, log house, shack, shebang, tepee, topek, house, mansion, place, villa, cottage, box, lodge, hermitage, rus in urbe, folly, rotunda, tower, chateau, castle, pavilion, hotel, court, manor-house, capital messuage, hall, palace, kiosk, bungalow, casa, country seat, apartment house, flat house, frame house, shingle house, tenement house, temple, hamlet, village, thorp, dorp, ham, kraal, borough, burgh, town, city, capital, metropolis, suburb, province, country, county town, county seat, courthouse, ghetto, street, place, terrace, parade, esplanade, alameda, board walk, embankment, road, row, lane, alley, court, quadrangle, quad, wynd, close, yard, passage, rents, buildings, mews, square, polygon, circus, crescent, mall, piazza, arcade, colonnade, peristyle, cloister, gardens, grove, residences, block of buildings, market place, place, plaza, anchorage, roadstead, roads, dock, basin, wharf, quay, port, harbor, quarter, parish, assembly room, meetinghouse, pump room, spa, watering place, inn, hostel, hostelry, hotel, tavern, caravansary, dak bungalow, khan, hospice, public house, pub, pot house, mug house, gin mill, gin palace, bar, bar room, barrel house, cabaret, chophouse, club, clubhouse, cookshop, dive, exchange, grill room, saloon, shebeen, coffee house, eating house, canteen, restaurant, buffet, cafe, estaminet, posada, almshouse, poorhouse, townhouse, garden, park, pleasure ground, plaisance, demesne, cage, terrarium, doghouse, pen, aviary, barn, stall, zoo, urban, metropolitan, suburban, provincial, rural, rustic, domestic, cosmopolitan, palatial, eigner Hert ist goldes Werth, even cities have their graves, ubi libertas ibi patria, home sweet home.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

Interiority

N interiority, inside, interior, interspace, subsoil, substratum, intrados, contents, substance, pith, marrow, backbone, heart, bosom, breast, abdomen, vitals, viscera, entrails, bowels, belly, intestines, guts, chitterings, womb, lap, penetralia, recesses, innermost recesses, cave, interior, internal, inner, inside, inward, intraregarding, inmost, innermost, deep seated, gut, intestine, intestinal, inland, subcutaneous, abdominal, coeliac, endomorphic, interstitial, inwrought, inclosed, home, domestic, indoor, intramural, vernacular, endemic, internally, inwards, within, in, inly, here in, there in, where in, ab intra, withinside, in doors, within doors, at home, in the bosom of one's family.

Clothing

VB invest, cover, envelope, lap, involve, inwrap, enwrap, wrap, fold up, wrap up, lap up, muffle up, overlap, sheath, swathe, swaddle, roll up in, circumvest, vest, clothe, array, dress, dight, drape, robe, enrobe, attire, apparel, accounter, rig, fit out, deck, perk, equip, harness, caparison, wear, don, put on, huddle on, slip on, mantle.

Circumjacence

VB lie around, surround, beset, compass, encompass, environ, inclose, enclose, encircle, embrace, circumvent, lap, gird, belt, begird, engird, skirt, twine round, hem in.

Food

VB eat, feed, fare, devour, swallow, take, gulp, bolt, snap, fall to, despatch, dispatch, discuss, take down, get down, gulp down, lay in, tuck in, lick, pick, peck, gormandize, bite, champ, munch, cranch, craunch, crunch, chew, masticate, nibble, gnaw, mumble, live on, feed upon, batten upon, fatten upon, feast upon, browse, graze, crop, regale, carouse, eat heartily, do justice to, play a good knife and fork, banquet, break bread, break one's fast, breakfast, lunch, dine, take tea, sup, drink in, drink up, drink one's fill, quaff, sip, sup, suck, suck up, lap, swig, swill, chugalug, tipple, empty one's glass, drain the cup, toss off, toss one's glass, wash down, crack a bottle, wet one's whistle, purvey.