tap

/tæp/
noun
  1. A light, quick strike or the sound made by such a strike.
    • There was a soft tap at the door.
    • I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around.
    • He gave the table a gentle tap with his pencil.
  2. A device for controlling the flow of liquid from a pipe or container; a faucet.
    • Don't leave the tap running while you brush your teeth.
    • The kitchen tap is leaking again.
    • She turned on the tap to fill the kettle.
  3. A tool for cutting threads inside a hole (as in metalworking).
    • The mechanic selected the correct tap size.
    • He used a tap to thread the hole for the bolt.
    • You need a tap and die set for this repair.
Synonyms
verb
  1. To strike something lightly and quickly, often repeatedly.
    • She tapped her fingers on the table while waiting.
    • The rain tapped softly against the window all night.
    • He tapped the glass to get the waiter's attention.
  2. To draw liquid from a container or source by opening a valve or making a hole.
    • They tapped the maple tree to collect sap for syrup.
    • We tapped the barrel to get some water.
    • The bartender tapped a fresh keg of beer.
  3. To access or make use of a resource or supply.
    • She tapped her savings to pay for the trip.
    • The company tapped into a new market in Asia.
    • Scientists hope to tap solar energy more efficiently.
  4. To secretly listen to someone's phone calls or communications.
    • They discovered that their calls were being tapped.
    • The police tapped the suspect's phone line.
    • The spy tapped the embassy's communication system.
Antonyms
What does "tap" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean