slap

slap¹

—slapper, n.

/slap/, n., v., slapped, slapping, adv.

n.

1. a sharp blow or smack, esp. with the open hand or with something flat.

2. a sound made by or as if by such a blow or smack: the slap of the waves against the dock.

3. a sharply worded or sarcastic rebuke or comment.

4. slap on the wrist, relatively mild criticism or censure: He got away with a slap on the wrist.

v.t.

5. to strike sharply, esp. with the open hand or with something flat.

6. to bring (the hand, something flat, etc.) with a sharp blow against something.

7. to dash or cast forcibly: He slapped the package against the wall.

8. to put or place promptly and sometimes haphazardly (often fol. by on): The officer slapped a ticket on the car. He slapped mustard on the sandwich.

9. slap down,

a. to subdue, esp. by a blow or by force; suppress.

b. to reject, oppose, or criticize sharply: to slap down dissenting voices.

adv.

10. Informal. directly; straight; smack: The tug rammed slap into the side of the freighter.

[1625-35; < LG slapp, slappe; of expressive orig.]

Syn. 1. See blow¹.

slap²

/slap/, n., v., slapped, slapping. Scot.

n.

1. a gap or opening, as in a fence, wall, cloud bank, or line of troops.

2. a mountain pass.

3. a wound or gash.

v.t.

4. to make a gap or opening in; breach.

[1325-75; ME slop < MD or MLG; c. G Schlupf hiding place]

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