nap

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Technical

n. the soft, fuzzy surface on some types of cloth or leather.

n. the raised, fuzzy surface or pile of certain fabrics, such as velvet or felt, created by fibers that lie in a specific direction.

“You should brush the velvet in the direction of the nap to keep it smooth.”

“The tailor carefully aligned the pattern pieces to ensure the nap of the wool ran downward on all sections of the coat.”

A2 · Elementary

v. to sleep for a short time during the day.

v. to engage in a brief period of sleep, especially during the day; often used intransitively.

“My grandfather likes to nap in his armchair while the news is on.”

“Research suggests that individuals who nap for short durations midday often exhibit better cardiovascular health than those who do not.”

C2 · Proficiency Cooking Technical

v. to cover a piece of food with a thin layer of sauce.

v. to lightly coat or cover a food item with a sauce. Often used in the passive voice.

“The chef decided to nap the fish with a light lemon butter sauce.”

“For the final presentation, the poached pears were napped with a rich chocolate ganache that clung perfectly to the fruit.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to be caught not paying attention when you should be.

v. to be caught unprepared or off one's guard; almost exclusively used in the idiom 'caught napping'.

“The sudden question from the boss caught the intern napping.”

“The incumbent candidate was caught napping by his opponent's aggressive social media strategy during the final week of the campaign.”