tap

Where “tap” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   A conical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container.
2. 2
   An object with a tapering conical form like a tap (etymology 1 sense 1); specifically, ellipsis of taproot (“long, tapering root of a plant”).
3. 3
   A hollow device used to control the flow of a fluid, such as an alcoholic beverage from a cask, or a gas or liquid in a pipe.
4. 4
   A hollow device used to control the flow of a fluid, such as an alcoholic beverage from a cask, or a gas or liquid in a pipe.
5. 5
   Liquor drawn through a tap (etymology 1 sense 2.2); hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; also (figurative, informal), a certain kind or quality of any thing.
6. 6
   A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls or other communications.
7. 7
   A secret interception of telephone calls or other communications using such a device; also, a recording of such a communication.
8. 8
   A situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time, usually at a fixed price, with volumes sold on a particular day dependent on market conditions.
9. 9
   A cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole, with cutting edges around the lower end and an upper end to which a handle is fitted to turn the tool.
10. 10
    Ellipsis of taphouse or taproom (“place where alcoholic beverages are served on tap”).
11. 11
    A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it; a tapping.

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English tappe (“hollow device for controlling the flow of liquid from a hole, cock, faucet, spigot; hole through which the liquid flows; the liquid which thus flows”), from Old English tæppa, from Proto-West Germanic *tappō, from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“a plug, tap; peg; tapering stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tapa. The verb is derived from Middle English tappen (“to obtain (liquid, chiefly liquor) from a tap; to obtain and sell (liquor)”), from Old English tæppian (“to provide (a container) with a stopper; to obtain (liquid) from a tap”), and then either: * from Old English tæppa (see above) + -ian (suffix forming verbs); or * from Proto-Germanic *tappōną, from *tappô (noun) (see above). Verb etymology 1 sense 1.3.5 (“to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round”) alludes to the abilities or resources of the card or piece having been drawn on to the point of temporary exhaustion: see verb etymology 1 sense 1.3.2.

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