harp

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /hɑɹp/ UK /hɑːp/ See IPA manual

Freq #12054

Meanings

1

verb
play the harp

They harped in the symphony.
2

noun
A musical instrument consisting of a body and a curved neck, strung with strings of varying length that are stroked or plucked with the fingers and are vertical to the soundboard when viewed from the end of the body

The Harpe. […] A harper with his wreſt maye tune the harpe wrong / Mys tunying of an Inſtrument ſhal hurt a true ſonge.
3

noun
The component of a lamp to which one attaches the lampshade, consisting of a lightweight frame that usually surrounds the bulb with an attachment at the top for the finial.

Contains charts and instructions for wiring. Shows sockets, wire, harps, glass chimneys and globes, shade holders, bases, finials, and hundreds of items necessary in the building of lamps.
4

noun
Ellipsis of harp seal.

More likely, it was the prospect of meat. Curwen was by now craving a juicy roast – 'even seal chop' – and was always loosing off at tickleasses and harps.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with harp

harp on Prepositional verb C2

to keep discussing or complaining about the same subject in an irritating way

Thesaurus

Synonyms

glee-beamperseverate

Word family

Derived forms harp-guitarharp-guitaristharp-playerharperharpistharplessharplikeharpmakerharpstringjaws'-harpjaws-harpjew's-harp

Related forms lyre

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English harpe, from Old English hearpe (“harp”), from Proto-West Germanic *harpā, from Proto-Germanic *harpǭ (“harp”). Cognate with Scots hairp (“harp”), West Frisian harpe, harp (“harp”), Low German Harp (“harp”), Dutch harp (“harp”), German Harfe (“harp”), Danish harpe (“harp”), Swedish harpa (“harp”).

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# harp

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /hɑɹp/
**IPA (UK):** /hɑːp/
**Frequency rank:** 12054

## Meanings
1. play the harp
2. A musical instrument consisting of a body and a curved neck, strung with strings of varying length that are stroked or plucked with the fingers and are vertical to the soundboard when viewed from the end of the body
3. The component of a lamp to which one attaches the lampshade, consisting of a lightweight frame that usually surrounds the bulb with an attachment at the top for the finial.
4. Ellipsis of harp seal.

## Examples
- They harped in the symphony.
- The Harpe. […] A harper with his wreſt maye tune the harpe wrong / Mys tunying of an Inſtrument ſhal hurt a true ſonge.
- Contains charts and instructions for wiring. Shows sockets, wire, harps, glass chimneys and globes, shade holders, bases, finials, and hundreds of items necessary in the building of lamps.
- More likely, it was the prospect of meat. Curwen was by now craving a juicy roast – 'even seal chop' – and was always loosing off at tickleasses and harps.

## Synonyms
- glee-beam
- perseverate

## Derived Forms
- harp-guitar
- harp-guitarist
- harp-player
- harper
- harpist
- harpless
- harplike
- harpmaker
- harpstring
- jaws'-harp
- jaws-harp
- jew's-harp

## Related Forms
- lyre

## Etymology
From Middle English harpe, from Old English hearpe (“harp”), from Proto-West Germanic *harpā, from Proto-Germanic *harpǭ (“harp”). Cognate with Scots hairp (“harp”), West Frisian harpe, harp (“harp”), Low German Harp (“harp”), Dutch harp (“harp”), German Harfe (“harp”), Danish harpe (“harp”), Swedish harpa (“harp”).

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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