An Encylopedia Britannica Company

lap

1 lap /ˈlæp/ noun
plural laps
1 lap
/ˈlæp/
noun
plural laps
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAP
[count]
: the area between the knees and the hips of a person who is sitting down

drop/fall into your lap

informal or land in your lap
◊ If something good drops/falls into your lap or lands in your lap, it comes to you suddenly in an unexpected way even though you did not try to get it.

drop/dump (something) in/into/on your lap

informal
◊ If something is dropped/dumped in/into/on your lap, it is given to you suddenly even though you did not want it or expect it.

in the lap of luxury

: in a situation of great ease, comfort, and wealth

in the lap of the gods

chiefly British
: not yet decided or certain
compare 3lap
2 lap /ˈlæp/ verb
laps; lapped; lapping
2 lap
/ˈlæp/
verb
laps; lapped; lapping
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAP
[+ object]
: to cause (something) to partly cover something else often + over
: to go past (another racer who is one or more laps behind you)
compare 4lap
3 lap /ˈlæp/ noun
plural laps
3 lap
/ˈlæp/
noun
plural laps
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAP
[count]
: an act of going completely around a track or over a course when you are running, swimming, etc.
◊ The winner of a race often takes a victory lap (US) or lap of honour (Brit) by going around the track or over the course alone one more time as a way to celebrate.
: a part of a journey
compare 1lap
4 lap /ˈlæp/ verb
laps; lapped; lapping
4 lap
/ˈlæp/
verb
laps; lapped; lapping
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAP
: to drink by licking with the tongue
[no object]
[+ object]
often + up often used figuratively
of water : to move repeatedly over or against something in gentle waves
[no object]
[+ object]
compare 2lap

— lapping

noun [noncount]