lap

I. noun Etymology: Middle English lappe, from Old English læppa; akin to Old High German lappa flap Date: before 12th century 1. a. a loose overlapping or hanging panel or flap especially of a garment b. archaic the skirt of a coat or dress 2. a. the clothing that lies on the knees, thighs, and lower part of the trunk when one sits b. the front part of the lower trunk and thighs of a seated person 3. responsible custody ; control <

going to drop the whole thing in your lap — Hamilton Basso

> • lapful noun II. verb (lapped; lapping) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to fold over or around something ; wind b. to envelop entirely ; swathe 2. to fold over especially into layers 3. to hold protectively in or as if in the lap ; cuddle 4. a. to place over and cover a part of ; overlap <

lap shingles on a roof

> b. to join (as two boards) by a lap joint 5. a. to dress, smooth, or polish (as a metal surface) to a high degree of refinement or accuracy b. to shape or fit by working two surfaces together with or without abrasives until a very close fit is produced 6. a. to overtake and thereby lead or increase the lead over (another contestant) by a full circuit of a racecourse b. to complete the circuit of (a racecourse) intransitive verb 1. fold, wind 2. a. to project beyond or spread over something b. to lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another ; overlap 3. to traverse a course • lapper noun III. noun Date: 1800 1. a. the amount by which one object overlaps or projects beyond another b. the part of an object that overlaps another 2. a smoothing and polishing tool usually consisting of a piece of wood, leather, felt, or soft metal in a special shape used with or without an embedded abrasive 3. a doubling or layering of a flexible substance (as fibers or paper) 4. a. the act or an instance of traversing a course (as a racing track or swimming pool); also the distance covered b. one segment of a larger unit (as a journey) c. one complete turn (as of a rope around a drum) IV. verb (lapped; lapping) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lapian; akin to Old High German laffan to lick, Latin lambere, Greek laphyssein to devour Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to take in food or drink with the tongue 2. a. to make a gentle intermittent splashing sound b. to move in little waves ; wash transitive verb 1. a. to take in (food or drink) with the tongue b. to take in or absorb eagerly or quickly — used with up <

the crowd lapped up every word he said

> 2. to flow or splash against in little waves • lapper noun V. noun Date: 14th century 1. a. an act or instance of lapping b. 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