1. The sound of light blow or knock
   "he heard the tapping of the man's cane"

1. Strike lightly
   "He tapped me on the shoulder";
   - tip
    
2. Make light, repeated taps on a surface
   "he was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently";
   - rap, knock, pink
    
3. Draw from or dip into to get something
   "tap one's memory"; "tap a source of money"
    
4. Draw (liquor) from a tap
   "tap beer in a bar";
   - pull [Brit, informal]
    
5. Pierce in order to draw a liquid from
   "tap a maple tree for its syrup"; "tap a keg of beer"
    
6. Secretly listen in on a communication channel (esp. a telephone) in order to get information
   "The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy";
   - wiretap, intercept, bug
    
7. Draw from; make good use of
   "we must tap the resources we are given wisely";
   - exploit
    
8. Furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it
   "tap a cask of wine"
    
9. Walk with a tapping sound
   "Her high heels tapped across the marble floor"
    
10. [informal] Ask for or obtain money or information from someone
    "He tapped his friends for a loan"
     
11. Cut a female screw thread with a tap
    "The machinist tapped the hole to create threads for the bolt"
     
12. Dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes
    "Glover taps better than anybody";
    - tapdance

Derived forms: tappings

Type of: apply, cut, dance, draw, draw off, earwig [Brit, informal], eavesdrop, employ, furnish, go, listen in, offer, pierce, provide, render, sound, strike, supply, take out, trip the light fantastic [archaic], trip the light fantastic toe [archaic], use, utilise [Brit], utilize, walk, withdraw

Encyclopedia: Tapping