verb
lap
Drink liquid by scooping it up with the tongue.
The cat laps water from a bowl on the floor.
Etymology
The inherited verb names drinking by repeated tongue movements. It preserves that specific action rather than the broader sense of drinking or swallowing.
More examples
- The thirsty dog lapped water from the puddle.
- The kitten is lapping formula from a shallow dish.
- The puppies lap up every drop of water.
Forms
lap · laps · lapped · lapping