slap

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /slæp/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like slop /æ/ vs /ɑ/

Freq #3495

Meanings

1

verb
To hit someone with the open hand, often on the face.

She slapped him across the face after he insulted her.
2

noun
A blow given with the open hand or something flat.

He gave me a friendly slap on the back.
3

noun
A sharp sound like that made by a slap.

I could hear the slap of my feet on the wet tiles.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with slap

slap down Phrasal verb B2

to criticize someone sharply to stop behavior considered unacceptable

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms slappedslappingslaps

Derived forms back-slappingbackslapbeslapbitch-slapbutt-slappingcockslapcyberslapdickslapkerslapknee-slappingpimp-slapslap-back

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

slapped down
criticized someone sharply to stop behavior considered unacceptable

Verb + adverb

Simplified etymology

Slap entered English in the late Middle English period, probably in imitation of the sound of a blow with the palm of the hand. Slapstick, recorded from the late 19th century, first named a device made of two flexible pieces of wood joined at one end, used by performers to imitate that sound. It later came to denote comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and embarrassing events.

Etymology

From Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative. Compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”). Compare also Italian sleppa (“slap”).

slappen Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# slap

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /slæp/
**Frequency rank:** 3495

## Meanings
1. To hit someone with the open hand, often on the face.
2. A blow given with the open hand or something flat.
3. A sharp sound like that made by a slap.

## Examples
- She slapped him across the face after he insulted her.
- He gave me a friendly slap on the back.
- I could hear the slap of my feet on the wet tiles.

## Derived Forms
- back-slapping
- backslap
- beslap
- bitch-slap
- butt-slapping
- cockslap
- cyberslap
- dickslap
- kerslap
- knee-slapping
- pimp-slap
- slap-back

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: slappen

## Etymology
From Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative. Compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”). Compare also Italian sleppa (“slap”).

## AI Etymology
Slap is from Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative. Compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”). Compare also Italian sleppa (“slap”). Important forms in the word's history include Middle English slappen. In current use it includes senses such as To hit someone with the open hand, often on the face and A blow given with the open hand or something flat.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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