lap

Everyday

1. A lap is one time around a track, field or pool. tree →
2. Your lap is the flat top part of your legs when you sit down. tree →
3. To lap is to drink by licking with the tongue, like a cat. tree →
4. Water laps when it moves gently against something, like waves on a beach. tree →
5. To lap someone in a race is to get a whole lap ahead of them. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, a unit of distance repeated: laps × length of one lap. In PE and sport: run laps of the field, swim laps of the pool. In everyday life: a cat sits on your lap, a laptop sits on your lap. In stories, waves lap at the shore. Phrases: «a lap of», «on your lap», «lap up», «the last lap», «victory lap».

Examples

• One lap of the track is 400 metres. tree →
• She ran 6 laps. tree →
• How far did she run? tree →
• He swims 20 laps a day. tree →
• The cat curled up on Grandma's lap. tree →
• The dog lapped water from its bowl. tree →
• Waves lapped gently against the boat. tree →
• On the last lap, Ava moved into first place. tree →
• The fastest runner lapped the slowest one. tree →
• The whip lay on his lap. tree →

Note

Countable: a lap, laps. Verb past: lapped; -ing: lapping. Laps are repeated equal distances: multiply. Trap: the distance of one lap must be known; «4 laps» alone is not metres. A lap of a pool is often one length there and back, but some say one length — read the story.

In Jewish tradition

In maths, a unit of distance repeated: laps × length of one lap. In PE and sport: run laps of the field, swim laps of the pool. In everyday life: a cat sits on your lap, a laptop sits on your lap. In stories, waves lap at the shore. Phrases: «a lap of», «on your lap», «lap up», «the last lap», «victory lap».

Examples

• The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. (Writings PRO.16.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage; for they knew them not. (Prophets 2KI.4.39, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a lap, laps. Verb past: lapped; -ing: lapping. Laps are repeated equal distances: multiply. Trap: the distance of one lap must be known; «4 laps» alone is not metres. A lap of a pool is often one length there and back, but some say one length — read the story.