tap: meaning and words from its letters
3 letters · 5 letter points · starts with T · ends with P
Meaning of tap
noun
A conical peg or pin used to close and open the hole or vent in a container.
- broadly
An object with a tapering conical form like a tap (etymology 1, noun sense 1); specifically, ellipsis of taproot (“long, tapering root of a plant”).
- broadly
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.
Example: We don’t have bottled water; you’ll have to get it from the tap.
- broadly, informal
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. A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity; paracentesis.
Example: abdominal tap pleural tap spinal tap
Listed forms: taps.
Source: Wiktionary — tap.
verb
- broadly, transitive
To furnish (a container, etc.) with a tap (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.2) so that liquid can be drawn.
- transitive
To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source).
Example: He tapped the ten-year-old whiskey from its barrel.
- informal, transitive
To draw off (a liquid) from a container or other source; also, to draw off a liquid from (a container or other source). To drain off fluid from (a person or a body cavity) by paracentesis.
- figuratively, transitive
To break into or open up (a thing) so as to obtain something; to exploit, to penetrate; tap into.
Example: Businesses are trying to tap the youth market.
Listed forms: taps, tapping, tapped, glossary, tappest.
Source: Wiktionary — tap.
verb
- transitive
To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard.
Example: Emma tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
- slang, transitive
To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. Also in the form tap on the shoulder: to arrest (someone).
- slang, transitive, vulgar
To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. To have sexual intercourse with (someone).
Example: I would tap that hot girl over there.
- slang, transitive
To strike (someone or something), chiefly lightly with a clear sound, but sometimes hard. To shoot (someone or something) with a firearm.
Listed forms: taps, tapping, tapped, glossary, tappest.
Source: Wiktionary — tap.
Adapted from Wiktionary contributors via Kaikki.org. Selected senses and forms; quotations omitted. Definition text is CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms by meaning
Words are grouped by sense, so they are not necessarily interchangeable in every context. Search synonyms for tap.
noun
the sound made by a gentle blow
noun
a gentle blow
noun
a faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask
- water faucet
- water tap
- hydrant
noun
a plug for a bunghole in a cask
Open English WordNet Team, 2025, derived from Princeton University WordNet; selected synonym groups under CC BY 4.0. Source · OEWN notice · Princeton notice.
Is tap in our word lists?
| Word list | Status |
|---|---|
| American English | Found |
| British English | Found |
| Extended English | Found |
These are spelling-list matches, not official game validity checks. Check the rules and dictionary used by your game.
Letter-value score of tap
T(1) + A(1) + P(3) = 5 points.
This is a sum of letter values without board bonuses or word multipliers. A blank tile is worth zero: subtract the value of each letter supplied by a blank. The score does not establish game validity. Full letter-value table.
Anagrams of tap
2 other standard-list words use exactly these letters, including repeated letters.
Shorter words from tap
3 shorter standard-list words can be made using no letter more often than it occurs in tap. Showing up to 24, longest first.