rap Hear it!

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rap1 definition

rap (rap)

transitive verb rapped, rapping rap′·ping

  1. to strike quickly and sharply; tap
  2. ☆ Slang to criticize sharply

Etymology: ME rappen, prob. of echoic orig.

intransitive verb

  1. to knock quickly and sharply
  2. ☆ to perform rap or a rap
  3. ☆ Slang to talk; chat
  4. ☆ Slang to talk seriously and frankly with another or others, often in an informal setting

noun

  1. a quick, sharp knock; tap
  2. ☆ Slang blame or punishment, as a prison sentence: usually in beat (or take) the rap, escape (or receive) the blame or punishment, or bum rap, unfair blame or punishment
  3. ☆ Slang a talking; chat
  4. ☆ Slang a serious, frank talk
  5. ☆
    1. a kind of popular music in which rhymed verses are chanted or declaimed to the accompaniment of forceful and repetitive rhythms, played usually on drums or synthesizers
      also rap music
    2. a rap song or recording
rap Idioms

rap on the knuckles

a mild reprimand or light sentence

rap out

to say or utter sharply to rap out an order
rap2 definition

rap (rap)

noun

  1. in the early 18th cent., a counterfeit halfpenny in circulation in Ireland
  2. Informal the least bit: now usually in not care (or give) a rap, not care anything at all

Etymology: < ?

rap3 definition

rap (rap)

transitive verb rapped or rapt, rapping rap′·ping

  1. to seize
  2. to transport with rapture: now only in the pp.

Etymology: back-form. < rapt

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms rap idiom

rap Synonyms

rap

n.

knock, thump, slap; see blow 1.

beat the rap*

avoid punishment, evade, be acquitted; see escape.

bum rap*

unfair sentence, blame, frame*; see injustice 2, punishment.

take the rap*

be punished, suffer, take the blame; see pay for.


rap

v.

  1. To tap sharply

    knock, strike, whack; see beat 1, 2, hit 1.

  2. *To talk

    chat, discuss freely, speak, converse; see discuss, talk 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

rap Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • knuckle: For all signs a financial rap on the knuckles is possible.

Preposition: over

  • knuckle: I can confirm that the Chief Executive of the MHS has been asked to give his staff a rap over the knuckles.

Converse of object

  • perform: He's taken to performing raps in the style of Norman Wisdom.

Adjective modifier

  • bum: I hate for them to get a bum rap like this.

Modifies a noun

  • superstar: On the 18th March 2002 R. Kelly teamed up with rap superstar Jay-Z to make a milestone album The Best Of Both Worlds.

Noun used with modifier

  • gangsta: David Blunkett has made comments linking " appalling " gangsta rap lyrics with gun crime.
rap usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"rap." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/rap>

APA Style

rap. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/rap

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