Webster's English Dictionary

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lap

1. lap \'lap\ n [ME lappe, fr. OE lppa; akin to OHG lappa flap, L 
   Xlabi to slide - more at SLEEP 1a: a loose panel or hanging flap esp. of a 
   garment  archaic  1b: the skirt of a coat or dress  2a1: the clothing that 
   lies on the knees, thighs, and lower part of the tru nk when one sits 2a2: 
   the front part of the lower trunk and thighs of a seated person  2b: an 
   environment of nurture {the ~ of luxury}  3: CHARGE, CONTROL {in the ~ of 
   the gods} 
2. lap vb or lapped;  or lap.ping 1a: to fold over or around something : 
   WIND  1b: to envelop entirely : SWATHE  2: to fold over esp. into layers  
   3: to hold protectively in or as if in the lap : CUDDLE  4a: to place over 
   or next to so as to partially or wholly cover : OVE RLAP 4b: to unite (as 
   beams or timbers) so as to preserve the same breadth and  depth throughout 
   5a: to smooth or polish to a high degree of refinement or accuracy  5b: to 
   work two surfaces together with or without abrasives until a very c lose 
   fit is produced 6a: to lead (an opponent) by one or more circuits of a 
   racecourse  6b: to complete the circuit of (a racecourse)  1: FOLD, WIND  
   2a: to project beyond or spread over  2b: to lie partly over or alongside 
   of something or of one another  3: to traverse a course  - lap.per n
3. lap n often attrib  1a: the amount by which one object overlaps or 
   projects beyond another  1b: the part of an object that overlaps another  
   2: a smoothing and polishing tool usu. comprising a piece of wood, leather, 
    felt, or soft metal used with or without an embedded abrasive 3: a 
   doubling or layering of a flexible substance (as fibers or paper)  4a: one 
   circuit around a racecourse  4b: one segment of a larger unit (as a 
   journey)  4c: one complete turn 
4. lap vb [ME lapen, fr. OE lapian; akin to OHG laffan to lick, L la]mbere, 
   Gk laphyssein to devour 1: to take in food or drink with the tongue  2a: to 
   make a gentle intermittent splashing sound  2b: to move in little waves : 
   WASH  1: to take in (food or drink) with the tongue  2: to flow or splash 
   against in little waves  - lap.per n
5. lap n 1a: an act or instance of lapping  1b: the amount that can be 
   carried to the mouth by one lick or scoop of the  tongue 2: a thin or weak 
   beverage or food  3: a gentle splashing sound