"strike lightly," c. 1200, from Old French taper "tap, rap, strike" (12c.), from a Gallo-Roman or Germanic source ultimately imitative of the sound of rapping. Meaning "to designate for some duty or for membership" is recorded from 1952, from notion of a tap on the shoulder. Related: Tapped; tapping.
tap (n.2)
"light blow or stroke," mid-14c., from tap (v.1). Tap dancer first recorded 1927, from tap (n.) in the sense of "metal plate over the heel of a shoe" (1680s).
tap (n.1)
"stopper, faucet through which liquid can be drawn," Old English tæppa "tap, spigot," from Proto-Germanic *tappon (cognates: Middle Dutch tappe, Dutch tap, Old High German zapfo, German Zapfe). Originally a tapering cylindrical peg for a cask, then a hollowed one to draw from it (compare sense evolution of spigot). Phrase on tap "ready for use, ready to be drawn and served" is recorded from late 15c. Tap-wrench, used in turning one, attested from 1815.
tap (v.2)
"to supply with a tap," late Old English tæppian, from source of tap (n.1); compare German zapfen "to tap." Meaning "to draw liquor with a tap" is from mid-15c. Extended sense "make use of" is first recorded 1570s. Meaning "listen in secretly" (1869), originally was with reference to telegraph wires. Tapped out "broke" is 1940s slang, perhaps from the notion of having tapped all one's acquaintances for loans already (compare British slang on the tap "begging, making requests for loans," 1932).
tap (n.3)
"device to listen in secretly on telephone calls," 1923, from tap (v.2) in the "listen secretly" sense.
双语例句
1. A tap on the door interrupted him and Sally Pierce came in.
敲门声打断了他，萨莉·皮尔斯走了进来。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Tap your cheeks all over with the pads of your fingers.
用手指头肚儿轻拍脸颊一遍。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The government passed laws allowing the police to tap telephones.
政府通过了允许警方监听电话的法令。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Tap each one firmly on your work surface to settle the mixture.
在工作台上逐个轻轻敲紧，让混合物变得密实。
来自柯林斯例句
5. You must have left a tap running in the bathroom.
