tap
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A light, quick touch or hit; a device for controlling the flow of liquid or gas.
To access or make use of a resource; to intercept communications; a style of dancing; in computing, a quick keypress; a barrel tap; a tapas bar (informal UK); a wiretap.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun sense relating to plumbing is often called 'faucet' in American English. The verb sense meaning 'to access/utilize' (e.g., 'tap into') is a very common metaphorical extension. The noun sense meaning 'light touch' is polysemous with the verb 'to tap'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: 'Tap' primarily refers to the water fixture. US: 'Faucet' is more common for the water fixture, but 'tap' is also understood. US 'tap' is more strongly associated with beer kegs and the action of tapping something.
Connotations
UK: 'Tap' is neutral/technical for plumbing, informal for 'tapas bar'. US: 'Tap' may sound slightly more technical or industrial for plumbing (vs. 'faucet'), but is standard for beer/spigots.
Frequency
Noun form is more frequent in UK English. Verb form ('to tap') is equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
tap [object]tap [object] [prepositional phrase] (e.g., on the shoulder)tap into [resource]tap [object] for [resource/information]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on tap (available)”
- “tap dance around (avoid an issue)”
- “tap into (access/use)”
- “tap out (surrender)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We need to tap into new markets." (verb: access/utilize)
Academic
"The study tapped a large dataset." (verb: accessed/used)
Everyday
"Can you turn the tap off?" (noun: water fixture)
Technical
"A gentle tap realigned the component." (noun/verb: light impact)
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The kitchen tap is dripping.
- He gave a polite tap on the door.
- Let's meet at the tap for a drink.
American English
- Check the tap on that keg.
- I felt a tap on my back.
- The plumber replaced the bathroom faucet (or tap).
verb
British English
- Tap the screen to continue.
- We can tap our pension funds early.
- He tapped me on the shoulder.
American English
- Tap the icon to open the app.
- The company tapped into investor enthusiasm.
- She tapped her foot impatiently.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please don't leave the tap running.
- The teacher tapped the desk for attention.
- Is the tap water safe to drink here?
- He tapped his fingers on the table nervously.
- The government plans to tap strategic oil reserves.
- She's taking tap dance lessons.
- The journalist was accused of tapping private communications.
- They've successfully tapped into a niche market.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TAP: you TAP it to get water out. A TAP dancer's shoes make a TAP sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESOURCES ARE LIQUIDS (to tap into funds, to tap a keg of beer). COMMUNICATION IS A CONDUIT (to tap a phone line).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'tap' (кран, легкое постукивание) with 'tape' (лента).
- "Tap water" is водопроводная вода, not just 'water'.
- The verb 'to tap' meaning 'to use' has no direct one-word equivalent; use извлекать выгоду, использовать.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'Open the tap.' Correct (UK): 'Turn on the tap.' Correct (US): 'Turn on the faucet/tap.'
- Confusing 'tap' (v) with 'type' (v). 'Tap the screen' is a quick touch, not typing.
Practice
Quiz
In a UK pub, 'a tap' most likely refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's common in both. For water fixtures, it's standard in the UK. In the US, 'faucet' is more common, but 'tap' is widely understood.
A 'tap' is lighter and quicker than a 'knock'. You tap a screen or someone's shoulder; you knock on a door.
Yes, 'to tap a phone' means to secretly listen to phone conversations, often illegally.
It literally means available from a barrel (beer on tap). Figuratively, it means 'readily available' (e.g., 'We have experts on tap').