# lap

/ˈɫæp/ (US) · /lˈæp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lap
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. seated posture

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The toddler sat on his grandfather's lap while they read a story together.
- She placed the heavy manuscript on her lap, adjusting her position in the armchair to support the weight of the thick binder.

### 2. racing circuit

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- 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.

### 3. to overtake in a race

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. water hitting a surface

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

when water moves gently against something with a soft sound.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. to drink like an animal

verb · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. to overlap

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to lay one thing partly over another.

For teachers: 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.

### 7. medical procedure

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The cat jumped onto my lap and fell asleep.
- She sat in the waiting room with her hands folded in her lap, trying to stay calm before the interview.
- The toddler climbed into his grandfather's lap to hear a story, finding comfort in the familiar, steady presence of the older man.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.