[lap], (Noun)

Definitions:
- the flat area between the waist and knees of a seated person
(e.g: come and sit on my lap)

- a hanging flap on a garment or a saddle


Phrases:
- fall into someone's lap
- in someone's lap
- in the lap of luxury
- in the lap of the gods

Origin:
Old English læppa, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lap, German Lappen ‘piece of cloth’. The word originally denoted a fold or flap of a garment (compare with lapel), later specifically one that could be used as a pocket or pouch, or the front of a skirt when held up to carry something (Middle English), hence the area between the waist and knees as a place where a child could be nursed or an object held

[lap], (Noun)

Definitions:
- one circuit of a track during a race
(e.g: heavy rain stopped the race after 18 laps)

- an overlapping or projecting part
(e.g: cut to the depth and width of the lap)

- a single turn of rope, thread, or cable round a drum or reel

- (in a lapping machine) a rotating disc with a coating of fine abrasive for polishing


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘coil, fold, or wrap’): from lap. Sense 1 of the noun and verb date from the mid 19th century

[lap], (Verb)

Definitions:
- overtake (a competitor in a race) to become one or more laps ahead
(e.g: she lapped all of her rivals in the 3,000 metres)

- wrap or enfold someone or something in (something soft)
(e.g: he was lapped in blankets)

- project beyond or overlap something
(e.g: the water lapped over the edges)

- polish (metal, glass, or a gem) with a lapping machine
(e.g: the honing and lapping of ring gauges)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘coil, fold, or wrap’): from lap. Sense 1 of the noun and verb date from the mid 19th century

[lap], (Verb)

Definitions:
- (of an animal) take up (liquid) with quick movements of the tongue
(e.g: the cat was lapping up a saucer of milk)

- (of water) wash against (something) with a gentle rippling sound
(e.g: the waves lapped the shore)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English lapian, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German and Middle Dutch lapen

[lap], (Noun)

Definitions:
- the action or sound of water washing gently against something
(e.g: listening to the comfortable lap of the waves against the shore)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English lapian, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German and Middle Dutch lapen