pap

¹

[ pap ]

noun

1. soft food for infants or invalids, as bread soaked in water or milk.
2. an idea, talk, book, or the like, lacking substance or real value.

   Synonyms: twaddle, balderdash, drivel

pap

²

[ pap ]

noun

, Chiefly Dialect.

1. a teat; nipple.
2. something resembling a teat or nipple.

pap

¹

/ pæp /

noun

1. dialect.
   a nipple or teat
2. 1. something resembling a breast or nipple, such as (formerly) one of a pair of rounded hilltops
   2. ( capital as part of a name )

      the Pap of Glencoe

pap

²

/ pæp /

noun

1. any soft or semiliquid food, such as bread softened with milk, esp for babies or invalids; mash
2. porridge made from maize
3. worthless or oversimplified ideas; drivel

   intellectual pap

pap

³

/ pæp /

verb

1. (of the paparazzi) to follow and photograph (a famous person)

Other Words From

• paplike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pap¹

1400–50; late Middle English; a nursery word akin to Dutch pap, German Pappe, Latin, Italian pappa

Origin of pap²

1150–1200; Middle English pappe; compare dialectal Norwegian, Swedish pappe, Latin papilla ( papilla ), Lithuanian pãpas, all from a base *pap- ; akin to pap ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pap¹

C12: of Scandinavian origin, imitative of a sucking sound; compare Latin papilla nipple, Sanskrit pippalaka

Origin of pap²

C15: from Middle Low German pappe, via Medieval Latin from Latin pappāre to eat; compare Dutch pap, Italian pappa

Origin of pap³

C20: from paparazzo

Example Sentences

One patient alleged that after a Pap smear decades ago, Brock inserted his finger into her rectum without warning or consent.

From Los Angeles Times

The PAP's share of the popular vote declined in the most recent elections, and it is facing a challenge to its decades-long one party dominance from an increasingly influential opposition party.

From BBC

Results show that greater adherence to PAP therapy was associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction and lower levels of relationship conflict.

From Science Daily

"We developed a couples-based treatment called 'We-PAP' in recognition of the fact that couples' sleep is a shared experience and to help patients and partners overcome challenges to adhering PAP together."

From Science Daily

The study involved 36 couples comprising patients initiating PAP treatment for sleep apnea and their partners.

From Science Daily