rap
/ɹæp/ noun, verb, proper noun
Also a form of rope
Forms raps rapping rapped rapt
- noun (countable) A sharp blow with something hard.
- noun (slang, with definite article) The blame for something, a reprimand, censure, or a legal sentence to serve in prison “You can't act irresponsibly and then expect me to take the rap.”
- noun (informal) A casual talk.
- noun (music, uncountable) Rap music. “They like listening to rap.”
- noun A song, verse, or instance of singing in the style of rap music.
- noun (Australia, informal) An appraisal. “a good/great/bad rap”
- noun (Australia, informal) A positive appraisal; a recommendation. “He gave the novel quite a rap.”
- verb (intransitive) To strike something sharply with one's knuckles; knock.
- verb (transitive, dated) To strike with a quick blow; to knock on.
- verb (metalworking) To free (a pattern) in a mould by light blows on the pattern, so as to facilitate its removal.
- verb To utter quickly and sharply. “The sergeant rapped out a word of command to the troops.”
- verb (ambitransitive) To speak (lyrics) in the style of rap music. “He started to rap after listening to Tupac.”
- verb (informal, intransitive) To talk casually; to engage in conversation.
- noun A lea or skein of yarn that forms the standard length taken from the reel, 80 yards of worsted or 120 yards of silk or cotton.
- noun (historical) Any of the tokens that passed current for a halfpenny in Ireland in the early part of the eighteenth century; any coin of trifling value.
- noun A whit; a jot. “I don't care a rap.”
- verb (transitive) To seize and carry off.
- verb (transitive) To transport out of oneself; to affect with rapture.
- noun (countable, slang) A charge, whether or not it results in a conviction.
- verb to rappel
Synonyms
blame fall knock noogie rapsheet rap sheet strike tap pat rap music hip-hop belt whack whang knap pink
Etymology
From Middle English rap, rappe, of North Germanic origin, related to Norwegian rapp (“a blow, strike, lash”), Swedish rapp (“a blow, lash, crack”), Danish rap (“a tap, smart, blow”). Compare Old English hreppan (“to touch, treat”). More at rape.
From Middle English rappen, of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish rappa (“to strike, beat, rap”), German rappeln (“to rattle”).
Uncertain.
Perhaps contracted from rapparee.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A lay or skein containing 120 yards of yarn. Knight.
- verb To strike with a quick, sharp blow; to knock; as, to rap on the door.
- verb To strike with a quick blow; to knock on. With one great peal they rap the door. Prior.
- verb To free (a pattern) in a mold by light blows on the pattern, so as to facilitate its removal.
Etymology [Etymol. uncertain.]
Etymology [Akin to Sw. rappa to strike, rapp stroke, Dan. rap, perhaps of imitative origin.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “rap”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details