1. (

• lap

) the upper side of the thighs of a seated person; "he picked up the little girl and plopped her down in his lap" ;

2. (

• lap

) an area of control or responsibility; "the job fell right in my lap" ;

3. (

• lap ,
• lap_covering

) the part of a piece of clothing that covers the thighs; "his lap was covered with food stains" ;

4. (

• lap ,
• overlap

) a flap that lies over another part; "the lap of the shingles should be at least ten inches" ;

5. (

• lap ,
• circle ,
• circuit ,

) movement once around a course; "he drove an extra lap just for insurance" ;

6. (

• lick ,
• lap

) touching with the tongue; "the dog's laps were warm and wet" ;

1. (

• lap

) lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another ;

2. (

• lick ,
• lap

) pass the tongue over; "the dog licked her hand" ;

3. (

• lap ,
• swish ,
• swosh ,
• swoosh

) move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound; "The bubbles swoshed around in the glass"; "The curtain swooshed open" ;

4. (

• lap ,
• lap_up ,
• lick

) take up with the tongue; "The cat lapped up the milk"; "the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast" ;

5. (

• lave ,
• lap ,
• wash ,

) wash or flow against; "the waves laved the shore" ;