a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled

she turned the cold tap on

the air-supply tap

a device connected to a telephone for listening secretly to someone's conversations

those taps produced hundreds of hours of recordings

an instrument for cutting a threaded hole in a material

a taproom

draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, or other container)

several barrels had been tapped to celebrate old victories

exploit or draw a supply from (a resource)

clients from industry seeking to tap Edinburgh's resources of expertise

these magazines have tapped into a target market of consumers

connect a device to (a telephone) so that conversation can be listened to secretly

the telephones were tapped by the state security police

cut a thread in (something) to accept a screw

on most vices, the metal jaws are drilled and tapped to accept screws

strike with a quick light blow or blows

one of my staff tapped me on the shoulder

designate or select (someone) for a task or honour, especially membership of an organization or committee

he had been tapped earlier to serve in Costa Rica

a quick light blow, or the sound of such a blow

there was a sharp tap at the door

tap dancing

a rhythm much used in tap

a bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters

the bugler played taps