"Lap" Definition

Definitions for the word "Lap" from multiple English dictionaries.

1. n.
The loose part of a coat; the lower part of a garment that plays loosely; a skirt; an apron.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. n.
An edge; a border; a hem, as of cloth.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. n.
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).
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. n.
A sheet, layer, or bat, of cotton fiber prepared for the carding machine.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. v. t.
To rest or recline in a lap, or as in a lap.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. v. t.
To cut or polish with a lap, as glass, gems, cutlery, etc. See 1st Lap, 10.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. n.
To fold; to bend and lay over or on something; as, to lap a piece of cloth.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. n.
To wrap or wind around something.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
15. n.
To infold; to hold as in one's lap; to cherish.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
16. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
17. n.
To lay together one over another, as fleeces or slivers for further working.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
18. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
19. v. i.
To take up drink or food with the tongue; to drink or feed by licking up something.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
20. v. i.
To make a sound like that produced by taking up drink with the tongue.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
21. v. t.
To take into the mouth with the tongue; to lick up with a quick motion of the tongue.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
22. n.
The act of lapping with, or as with, the tongue; as, to take anything into the mouth with a lap.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
23. n.
The sound of lapping.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
24. n.
1 front of the body from the waist to the knees of a sitting person. 2 clothing covering this. in the lap of the gods beyond human control. In the lap of luxury in extremely luxurious surroundings. [old english]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
25. n.
1 a one circuit of a racetrack etc. B section of a journey etc. 2 a amount of overlapping. B overlapping part. 3 single turn of thread etc. Round a reel etc. v. (-pp-) 1 lead or overtake (a competitor in a race) by one or more laps. 2 (often foll. By about, round) fold or wrap (a garment etc.) Round. 3 (usu. Foll. By in) enfold in wraps etc. 4 (as lapped adj.) (usu. Foll. By in) enfolded caressingly. 5 cause to overlap. [probably from *lap1]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
26. v.
(-pp-) 1 a (esp. Of an animal) drink with the tongue. B (usu. Foll. By up, down) consume (liquid) greedily. C (usu. Foll. By up) consume (gossip, praise, etc.) Greedily. 2 (of waves etc.) Ripple; make a lapping sound against (the shore). n. 1 a act of lapping. B amount of liquid taken up. 2 sound of wavelets. [old english]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
27. slang
liquor, drink. LAP is the term invariably used in the ballet girls’ dressing-room for gin.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
28. slang
one circuit of a pedestrian enclosure. In running a race of any distance one man is said to LAP another when he is one entire circuit in front.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864

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Additional Info
This page provides a list of definitions and meanings for "Lap" from various historical English dictionaries. By displaying multiple definitions, you can compare and contrast different meanings and nuances of a word, phrase, or slang. You can also see the changes in meaning of "Lap" over time by viewing the definitions from different dictionaries published at different times in history. The page also includes other information to help users expand their vocabulary and understand the context of the word.

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