Lap
/læp/
nounverbA2
Definition
As a noun, "lap" means the flat area formed by your thighs when you sit, often used to hold things or rest something. As a verb, "lap" means to drink a liquid by touching it softly and quickly with the tongue, like how a cat drinks water. It can also mean to move or fold over something gently, or when waves move onto the shore.
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See It in Action
Noun: The flat area on your legs when you sit
- •She placed the baby on her lap.
- •I put the laptop on my lap while watching a movie.
- •The cat jumped into my lap to sleep.
Verb: To drink by quickly touching liquid with the tongue
- •The dog lapped water from the bowl.
- •He lapped the milk with his tongue.
- •The kitten lapped the cream happily.
Verb: To move gently over or around something, especially water or waves
- •The waves lapped softly against the shore.
- •Water lapped at the boat’s side.
- •The river lapped gently around the rocks.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "lap" like "leg" (A1 word), but specifically the top part of your legs when sitting
- ✓Picture sitting in a chair with a book resting on your lap—that flat space made by your legs
- ✓It's the feeling of a cat quickly licking water from a bowl, moving its tongue fast and softly
- ✓Sounds like "lap" → imagine a small soft sound of water touching the shore or a tongue quickly touching water
- ✓Remember puppies or cats drinking water by licking it gently—that is lapping
- ✓NOT like "hand" (part of body for holding), "lap" is the flat area made by your legs when sitting
- ✓NOT like "sip" (drink slowly), "lap" is quick, light touches with the tongue when drinking
- ✓NOT like "wave" (big movement), "lap" is small, gentle movement of water or tongue
Try Other Words
- •Thigh: the upper part of the leg (Use when referring specifically to the upper leg, not the flat sitting surface)
- •Sip: to drink a small amount slowly (Use when drinking slowly, not quickly with the tongue)
- •Touch: to lightly move against something (Use when focusing on contact, not specifically related to drinking or sitting)
- •Wave: a moving line of water (Use when describing larger water movements, not gentle lapping)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: single syllable word, no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: Old English "læppa," meaning the fold or flap of skin or cloth
- •Historical development: Originally referred to a flap or fold, later used for the part of the body when sitting and the action of licking or moving gently
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe the lap of a person when sitting, the way animals drink, and gentle water movements
Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel when someone or a pet sits on your lap? Why might this be a comforting action?
•Can you think of other animals or situations where the word "lap" as a verb is used besides drinking water?
Fill in the blanks
1.The kitten lapped the milk ___ from the bowl quickly and softly.
2.She held the book on her ___ while sitting in the chair.
3.Waves lapped ___ the shore gently during the calm morning.
4.When dogs are thirsty, they ___ water by moving their tongue fast.
5.Unlike sipping slowly, lapping means drinking with quick ___ touches of the tongue.
6.The baby smiled happily while sitting on her mother’s ___.
7.Water lapped ___ the side of the boat, making soft sounds.