lap

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Sports

n. one complete trip around a race track or a swimming pool.

n. a single completion of a course or circuit, especially in sports like running, cycling, or swimming.

Español:vuelta

“The runner completed the final lap of the race in record time.”

“The lead driver entered the final lap with a narrow advantage, desperately trying to maintain his position despite the deteriorating condition of his tyres.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports

v. to get one full lap ahead of another person in a race.

v. to overtake a competitor in a race by completing one more full circuit of the course than they have.

“The professional cyclist was so fast that he managed to lap several other riders.”

“By the midpoint of the endurance race, the champion had already lapped the trailing competitors, demonstrating a significant gap in technical performance.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Literary

v. when water moves gently against something with a soft sound.

v. to wash against a surface with a gentle, rhythmic splashing sound.

“We could hear the waves gently lapping against the side of the boat.”

“The lake water lapped rhythmically against the wooden pilings of the pier, creating a soothing atmosphere in the stillness of the evening.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to drink liquid using the tongue, like a dog or a cat.

v. to take up liquid into the mouth using the tongue; often used with 'up'.

“The thirsty kitten began to lap up the milk from the small bowl.”

“The dog lapped water from the stream after the long hike, clearly exhausted by the steep ascent in the midday heat.”

C1 · Advanced Engineering Technical

v. to lay one thing partly over another.

v. to place or lie so as to cover a part of something else; to overlap.

“The roof tiles must lap over each other to keep the rain out.”

“The design requires the steel plates to lap by at least ten centimetres to ensure structural integrity under high pressure.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Informal · Technical

n. a short way of saying a medical surgery using a small camera.

n. a colloquial clipping of laparoscopy or laparotomy.

“The surgeon performed a diagnostic lap to check for internal issues.”

“Following the emergency admission, the surgical team decided to proceed with a diagnostic lap to identify the source of the abdominal pain.”