lap
1 Americannoun
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the front part of the human body from the waist to the knees when in a sitting position.
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the part of the clothing that lies on the front portion of the body from the waist to the knees when one sits.
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a place, environment, or situation of rest or nurture.
the lap of luxury.
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area of responsibility, care, charge, or control.
They dropped the problem right in his lap.
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a hollow place, as a hollow among hills.
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the front part of a skirt, especially as held up to contain something.
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a part of a garment that extends over another.
the lap of a coat.
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a loose border or fold.
verb (used with object)
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to fold over or around something; wrap or wind around something.
to lap a bandage around one's finger.
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to enwrap in something; wrap up; clothe.
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to envelop or enfold.
lapped in luxury.
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to lay (something) partly over something underneath; lay (things) together, one partly over another; overlap.
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to lie partly over (something underneath).
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to get a lap or more ahead of (a competitor) in racing, as on an oval track.
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to cut or polish with a lap.
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to join, as by scarfing, to form a single piece with the same dimensions throughout.
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to change (cotton, wool, etc.) into a compressed layer or sheet.
verb (used without object)
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to fold or wind around something.
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to lie partly over or alongside of something else.
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to lie upon and extend beyond a thing; overlap.
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to extend beyond a limit.
noun
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the act of lapping.
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the amount of material required to go around a thing once.
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a complete circuit of a course in racing or in walking for exercise.
to run a lap.
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an overlapping part.
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the extent or amount of overlapping.
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a rotating wheel or disk holding an abrasive or polishing powder on its surface, used for gems, cutlery, etc.
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a compressed layer or sheet of cotton, wool, or other fibrous material usually wound on an iron rod or rolled into a cylindrical form for further processing during carding.
verb (used with object)
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(of water) to wash against or beat upon (something) with a light, slapping or splashing sound.
Waves lapped the shoreline.
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to take in (liquid) with the tongue; lick in.
to lap water from a bowl.
verb (used without object)
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to wash or move in small waves with a light, slapping or splashing sound.
The water lapped gently against the mooring.
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to take up liquid with the tongue; lick up a liquid.
noun
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the act of lapping liquid.
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the lapping of water against something.
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the sound of this.
the quiet lap of the sea on the rocks.
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something lapped up, as liquid food for dogs.
verb phrase
verb
noun
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one circuit of a racecourse or track
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a stage or part of a journey, race, etc
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an overlapping part or projection
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the extent of overlap
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the length of material needed to go around an object
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a rotating disc coated with fine abrasive for polishing gemstones
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any device for holding a fine abrasive to polish materials
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metallurgy a defect in rolled metals caused by the folding of a fin onto the surface
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a sheet or band of fibres, such as cotton, prepared for further processing
verb
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(tr) to wrap or fold (around or over)
he lapped a bandage around his wrist
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(tr) to enclose or envelop in
he lapped his wrist in a bandage
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to place or lie partly or completely over or project beyond
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(tr; usually passive) to envelop or surround with comfort, love, etc
lapped in luxury
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(intr) to be folded
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(tr) to overtake (an opponent) in a race so as to be one or more circuits ahead
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(tr) to polish or cut (a workpiece, gemstone, etc) with a fine abrasive, esp to hone (mating metal parts) against each other with an abrasive
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to form (fibres) into a sheet or band
noun
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the area formed by the upper surface of the thighs of a seated person
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Also called: lapful. the amount held in one's lap
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a protected place or environment
in the lap of luxury
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any of various hollow or depressed areas, such as a hollow in the land
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the part of one's clothing that covers the lap
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give someone the responsibility of
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beyond human control and power
verb
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(of small waves) to wash against (a shore, boat, etc), usually with light splashing sounds
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(often foll by up) (esp of animals) to scoop (a liquid) into the mouth with the tongue
noun
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the act or sound of lapping
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a thin food for dogs or other animals
Other Word Forms
- lapper noun
Etymology
Origin of lap1
First recorded before 900; Middle English lap(pe) “lower part of a shirt or skirt,” Old English læppa “skirt (of a garment)”; cognate with Dutch lap; akin to German lappen, Old Norse leppr “lock of hair; rag, patch”
Origin of lap2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English lappen, lap(pe) “to fold, wrap”; cognate with Dutch lappen “to patch, mend”; akin to lap 1
Origin of lap3
First recorded before 1000; Middle English lap(p)en, Old English lapian; cognate with Middle Low German lapen, Old High German laffan; akin to Latin lambere “to lick, touch,” Greek láptein “to lick, lap”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Another blinder of a start on lap one and great wheel to wheel battling throughout, with some quite close call action with Hamilton.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
A toddler sat on her mother’s lap, clutching a rosary.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
Flew in qualifying and despite downplaying his final lap, he could have pipped Piastri for P2.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
The incident that turned the race on its head occurred on lap 22.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
Jonah was very careful to keep his hands in his lap, as far as possible from his parents’ hands.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
