rap

1. noun /ræp/

a) A sharp blow with something hard.

The teacher gave the wayward pupil a rap across the knuckles with her ruler.

b) Blame (for something).

He walked softly up the sanded path, tiptoed up the steps and across the piazza, and rapped at the front door, not too loudly, lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street. There was no response to his rap. He put his ear to the door and heard voices within, and the muffled sound of footsteps. After a moment he rapped again, a little louder than before.

Syn: fall

2. verb /ræp/

a) To strike something sharply with ones knuckles; knock.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, ¶ Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, ¶ While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, ¶ As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. ¶ "Tis some visitor", I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door — ¶ Only this, and nothing more."

b) To speak (lyrics) in the style of rap music.

He walked softly up the sanded path, tiptoed up the steps and across the piazza, and rapped at the front door, not too loudly, lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street. There was no response to his rap. He put his ear to the door and heard voices within, and the muffled sound of footsteps. After a moment he rapped again, a little louder than before.

Syn: knock