ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lap

n. · v.
US //ˈɫæp// UK //lˈæp// lap
  1. 1 seated posture (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the flat area between your waist and knees when you are sitting down.

    the area formed by the upper surface of the thighs of a seated person.

    Example

    The toddler sat on his grandfather's lap while they read a story together.

    Example

    She placed the heavy manuscript on her lap, adjusting her position in the armchair to support the weight of the thick binder.

  2. 2 racing circuit (n.)
    A2 Elementary Sport

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The lead driver entered the final lap with a narrow advantage, desperately trying to maintain his position despite the deteriorating condition of his tyres.
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  1. 3 to overtake in a race (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    By the midpoint of the endurance race, the champion had already lapped the trailing competitors, demonstrating a significant gap in technical performance.
  2. 4 water hitting a surface (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    when water moves gently against something with a soft sound.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The lake water lapped rhythmically against the wooden pilings of the pier, creating a soothing atmosphere in the stillness of the evening.
  3. 5 to drink like an animal (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The dog lapped water from the stream after the long hike, clearly exhausted by the steep ascent in the midday heat.
  4. 6 to overlap (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Engineering

    to lay one thing partly over another.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The design requires the steel plates to lap by at least ten centimetres to ensure structural integrity under high pressure.
  5. 7 medical procedure (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Technical Medicine

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

    a colloquial clipping of laparoscopy or laparotomy.

    Example

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

    Example

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