slap

Uncertain. Eventually probably of imitative origin, but possibly old; compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”).

• Rhymes: -æp

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slap (countable and uncountable, plural slaps)

1. (countable) A blow, especially one given with the open hand, or with something broad and flat.
2. (countable) The sound of such a blow.
3. (slang, uncountable) Makeup; cosmetics.

Especially used of blows to the face (aggressive), buttocks, and hand, frequently as a sign of reproach. Conversely, used of friendly strikes to the back, as a sign of camaraderie.

• cuff

• bitch-slap
• dickslap
• pimp-slap
• slap and tickle
• slap in the face

slap (third-person singular simple present slaps, present participle slapping, simple past and past participle slapped)

1. (transitive) To give a slap to.

   She slapped him in response to the insult.

   • 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room Chapter 1

     Mrs. Flanders rose, slapped her coat this side and that to get the sand off, and picked up her black parasol.

2. (transitive) To cause something to strike soundly.

   He slapped the reins against the horse's back.

3. (intransitive) To strike soundly against something.

   The rain slapped against the window-panes.

4. (intransitive, slang, of songs) To be excellent.

   Their new single slaps.

5. (transitive) To place, to put carelessly.

   We'd better slap some fresh paint on that wall.

   • 2018 "The Secret Ceramics Room of Secrets", Bob's Burgers

     Louise Belcher: "On Monday there was supposed to be some big schoolboard inspection or something, so instead of cleaning the place up, what does the principal do? He panics. He and the janitor and the janitor's brother slap a wall where the door used to be."
     Gene Belcher: "Wall slap."

6. (transitive, informal, figuratively) To impose a penalty, etc. on (someone).

   I was slapped with a parking fine.

• cuff

• slapper
• slap leather
• slap together
• slap-up

slap (not comparable)

1. Exactly, precisely

   He tossed the file down slap in the middle of the table.

• just
• right
• slap bang
• smack dab

• ALPs, APLS, ASPL, Alps, PALS, PALs, Pals, Plas, SPLA, alps, laps, pals, salp

• Rhymes: -ap

From Middle Low German slap

slap

1. loose
2. limp
3. slack
4. flaccid
5. lax

See the etymology of the main entry.

slap

1. past tense of slippe

• “slap” in Den Danske Ordbog

From Middle Dutch slap. Cognate with German schlaff and schlapp.

• IPA^(key): /slɑp/

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slap (comparative slapper, superlative slapst)

1. slack
2. weak

• plas

From Proto-Germanic *slēpaz. Compare Old English slǣp, Old High German slāf.

slāp m

1. sleep

slap (plural slaps)

1. A gap in a fence.
2. A narrow cleft between hills.

slap

1. (transitive) To break an opening in.

From Proto-Slavic *solpъ.

• IPA^(key): /slâːp/

slȃp m (Cyrillic spelling сла̑п)

1. (geology) waterfall

• “slap” in Hrvatski jezični portal

From Proto-Slavic *solpъ.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsláːp/
• Tonal orthography: slȃp

sláp m inan (genitive slápa or slapú, nominative plural slápi or slapôvi)

1. (geology) waterfall

slap m (plural slaps)

1. (Peru) flip-flop, thong (Australia), jandal (New Zealand)

• bamba
• chancla
• chola (Venezuela)
• ojota (Argentina)
• sayonara (Peru)