tap

The word "tap" can be used as a noun or as a verb (and sometimes an adjective). It’s something that you do with your fingers to get someone’s attention. It’s similar to "knock."

• The little girl next door tapped softly on our door to let us know she was there.
• My car is making a strange tapping noise. (The word "tapping" is an adjective in this sentence.)
• Tap dancing was very popular in the 1940s and 1950s. (What’s tap dancing? This YouTube video provides a good example of that.)
• The teacher tapped Matt on the shoulder and told him to be quiet.
• Please stop tapping on the table with your fingers. It’s annoying.
• A tap at the door meant that our package was delivered. (This sentence uses "tap" as a noun.)

The word "tap" is also used in place of the word "faucet." In this case you can use it as a noun or as an adjective:

• The tap water we get at our house is pretty good. (This is the water that is supplied to your house by the municipality or city.)
• Instead of buying bottled water, the water from the tap is just as good.

People who work at restaurants must know what "on tap" means. This is almost always used for beer that comes from a keg. The "tap" is kind of like a faucet. The beer comes from the tap.

• What kind of beer do you have on tap?
• They have several interesting beers on tap.
• This restaurant has Summit Pale Ale on tap.

He’s tapping a keg.

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This page was published on December 20, 2011.