rap

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   genre of African-American music of the 1980s and 1990s in which rhyming lyrics are chanted to a musical accompaniment

   several forms of rap have emerged

2. 2
   verb

   to strike sharply

   I rapped them on the knuckles.

3. 3
   noun

   A sharp blow with something hard.

   The teacher sat at one end of the bench, with a meek little fellow by his side. When the others were disorderly, this young martyr received a rap; intended, probably, as a sample of what the rest might expect, if they didn't amend.

4. 4
   noun

   The blame for something.

   You can't act irresponsibly and then expect me to take the rap.

5. 5
   noun

   A casual talk.

   Clearspace is holding a bisexuality rap at the center, 485 Mass Ave. 7:30pm. Topic of discussion will be femininity and masculinity.

6. 6
   noun

   Rap music.

   They like listening to rap.

7. 7
   noun

   An appraisal.

   a good/great/bad rap

8. 8
   noun

   A positive appraisal; a recommendation.

   He gave the novel quite a rap.

Etymology

From Middle English rap, rappe, of North Germanic origin, related to Norwegian rapp (“a blow, strike, lash”), Swedish rapp (“a blow, lash, crack”), Danish rap (“a tap, smart, blow”). Compare Old English hreppan (“to touch, treat”). More at rape.