tapping

Everyday

1. Tapping is hitting something lightly and quickly, often again and again, like tapping on a window. tree →
2. Tapping is touching a phone or tablet screen lightly to choose something. tree →
3. Tapping is using a supply of something, like tapping a tree for sap or tapping water. tree →
4. Phone tapping is secretly listening to someone's phone calls. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons, children keep the beat by tapping their feet or hands. In computing, tapping the screen opens apps. In stories, a tapping at the window or door builds suspense. In maths, «tap out» a rhythm to count beats. Phrases: «tapping your feet», «a tapping sound», «tap on the shoulder».

Examples

• Someone was tapping on the window. tree →
• She kept tapping her pencil on the desk. tree →
• We were tapping our feet to the music. tree →
• Tapping the icon opens the game. tree →
• The woodpecker was tapping on the tree. tree →
• He was tapping me on the shoulder to get my attention. tree →
• Farmers in Canada collect maple syrup by tapping trees. tree →
• Stop tapping; it's distracting. tree →
• It was a soft cautious tapping on the door of his tree. tree →

Note

The -ing form of «tap»: double the p (tap → tapped, tapping). Do not confuse with «taping» (sticking with tape), which has one p and a long a. «Tap» is also a noun: a water tap (UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland) is a «faucet» in the USA.