lapping
/ˈlæpɪŋ/noun, verb
lapping is spelled L-A-P-P-I-N-G: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 35,320th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, lapping means “A kind of machine blanket or wrapping material used by calico printers” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of lapping is lappings.
How many letters and syllables are in lapping?
| Letters | 7: L-A-P-P-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 35,320th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is lapping?
Lapping appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 35,320th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce lapping?
- /ˈlæpɪŋ/
Lapping has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Forms of lapping
- lappings plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does lapping mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A kind of machine blanket or wrapping material used by calico printers.
- 2
The process of forming a lap or fleece of fibrous material for the carding-machine.
- 3
The rubbing or polishing of a metal surface.
- 4
A form of fraud in which payments in the accounts are repeatedly delayed between periods, or diverted between customers, to conceal a theft.
- 5
The process of rubbing away the lands, or metal between the grooves of a rifled gun, to increase the bore.
- 6
Lengths of fine silk, metal wire, or whalebone wrapped tightly around the stick of the bow of a string instrument adjacent to the leather part of the bow grip at the heel.
- 7
The gentle, rhythmic sound of water splashing against a solid surface.
verb
- 1
present participle and gerund of lap
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Lapping in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense winding of a bow:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | garniture |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does lapping come from?
From Middle English lapping, lappyng, lappinge, equivalent to lap + -ing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).