Meaning & use

lap

noun·Everyday

The flat area formed by the upper legs of a seated person, or one complete circuit of a track or course.

See it in a sentence

The cat curled up and fell asleep on her lap.

He finished the final lap just ahead of the second-place runner.

A note on using this word

As a verb, "lap" also means to drink with quick tongue movements, as in "the dog lapped up the water."

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To overtake a competitor by a full circuit in a race.

The lead cyclist lapped several riders before the race ended.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “lap”, then compare your use with the examples above.

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