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• yap
  yap

  verb (used without object)

  to bark sharply, shrilly, or snappishly; yelp.
• Yap
  Yap

  noun

  one of the Caroline Islands, in the W Pacific: part of the Federated States of Micronesia. 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km).

yap

¹ American  

[yap] / yæp /

verb (used without object)

yapped, yapping

1. to bark sharply, shrilly, or snappishly; yelp.

2. Slang. to talk shrilly, noisily, or foolishly.

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verb (used with object)

yapped, yapping

1. to utter by yapping.

noun

1. a sharp, shrill, or snappish bark; yelp.

2. Slang.

   1. shrill, noisy, or foolish talk.

   2. the mouth.

      Keep your yap shut.

3. Slang. an uncouth or stupid person; bumpkin; fool.

Yap ² American  

[yahp, yap] / yɑp, yæp /

noun

1. one of the Caroline Islands, in the W Pacific: part of the Federated States of Micronesia. 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km).

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yap ¹ British  

/ jæp /

verb

1. (of a dog) to bark in quick sharp bursts; yelp

2. informal to talk at length in an annoying or stupid way; jabber

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noun

1. a high-pitched or sharp bark; yelp

2. slang annoying or stupid speech; jabber

3. slang a derogatory word for mouth

interjection

1. (usually reiterated) an imitation or representation of the sound of a dog yapping or people jabbering

Yap ² British  

/ jɑːp, jæp /

noun

1. a group of four main islands in the W Pacific, in the W Caroline Islands: administratively a district of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1947; became self-governing in 1979 as part of the Federated States of Micronesia; important Japanese naval base in World War II. Pop: 11 647 (2006 est). Area: 101 sq km (39 sq miles)

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Other Word Forms

• yapper
  noun
• yappingly
  adverb
• yappy
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of yap

1595–1605; 1900–05 yap for def. 5b; imitative

Example Sentences

"It's mad people want to watch me yap," she says.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025

At night, hungry coyotes yap and howl beyond the walls of Deborah’s ample, manicured yard.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2025

So, when the birds don't move around or yap in open spaces, that makes things more challenging for the humans.

From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2024

On a quiet weekday evening inside a restaurant in Brooklyn, a dog under a table announced its presence with a single pronounced yap.

From New York Times • May 16, 2024

Ethel gave him a happy yap, and Fred scrambled up a ramp into the back of the van.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• babble
• ramble