Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A sharp blow made with the open hand or with a flat object; a smack.
  • noun The sound of such a blow.
  • noun A sharp insult.
  • intransitive verb To strike with the palm of the hand or a flat object.
  • intransitive verb To cause to strike forcefully and loudly.
  • intransitive verb To put or place quickly or carelessly.
  • intransitive verb To subject to a legal obligation, such as a fine or court order.
  • intransitive verb To impose (a legal obligation) on someone.
  • intransitive verb To strike or beat with the force and sound of a slap.
  • adverb Directly and with force.
  • idiom (slap on the wrist) A nominal or token punishment.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A blow given with the open hand, or with something flat.
  • noun A narrow pass between two hills.
  • noun A breach in a wall, hedge, or fence; a gap.
  • noun A gap in the edge of a knife, etc.
  • First-rate; of the best; “slap-up.”
  • To strike with the open hand or with something flat: as, to slap one on the back; to slap a child on the hand.
  • To strike with; bring upon or against something with a blow.
  • With sudden and violent force; plump; suddenly.
  • An obsolete variant of slop.
  • To break into gaps; break out (an opening), as in a solid wall.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb colloq. With a sudden and violent blow; hence, quickly; instantly; directly.
  • transitive verb To strike with the open hand, or with something broad.
  • noun A blow, esp. one given with the open hand, or with something broad.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A blow, especially one given with the open hand, or with something broad and flat.
  • noun The sound of such a blow.
  • noun slang (uncountable) Makeup, cosmetics.
  • verb To give a slap.
  • verb To cause something to strike soundly.
  • verb To place, to put carelessly.
  • adverb Exactly, precisely

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a blow from a flat object (as an open hand)
  • adverb directly
  • verb hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand
  • noun the act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English slappe.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Uncertain, probably from imitative origin.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word slap.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.