tap
gb/tˈæp/ us/tˈæp/
A1
English
~ 2900
megkocogtat, rákoppint, koppint, csap, megcsapol, igénybe vesz, hasznosít, támaszkodik, lehallgat
VERB
A2
1
megkocogtat
B2
rákoppint
B1
Usage pattern:
to tap [something]
She tapped the microphone to see if it was on.
Megkocogtatta a mikrofont, hogy megnézze, be van-e kapcsolva.
He tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention.
Megkocogtatta a vállát, hogy felhívja magára a figyelmét.
I tapped the screen to open the app.
The drummer tapped the cymbal gently.
He tapped the table impatiently.
Learner examples
I tapped the door softly.
Finoman megkocogtattam az ajtót.
She tapped my arm.
Megkocogtatta a karomat.
Tap the screen to start.
He tapped his foot on the floor.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tap' with 'hit'. 'Tap' is light and gentle; 'hit' is strong.
Meaning
Touch something quickly and gently
Collocations
tap the screen
|tap the table
|tap lightly
Synonyms
pat (Usually implies a soft, flat touch, often to show affection.)
Antonyms
hit (Implies a much stronger and often forceful impact.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To touch something softly and quickly, usually with your finger or hand.
To strike or touch something lightly, often with a fingertip or small object.
VERB
A2
2
koppint
B1
Usage pattern:
to tap [icon/button]
Tap the icon to open the app.
Koppints az ikonra az alkalmazás megnyitásához.
You can tap the screen to pause the video.
A videó megállításához koppints a képernyőre.
I tapped 'OK' to continue.
Tap the link to visit our website.
Learner examples
Tap the button to start.
Koppints a gombra az indításhoz.
I tap the icon to play music.
Rákoppintok az ikonra, hogy zenét játsszak le.
She taps the screen to call him.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'tap' and 'click'; 'tap' is for touchscreens, 'click' is for mouse use.
Meaning
Select by touching a screen
Collocations
tap an icon
|tap the button
|tap to open
Synonyms
press (Can imply more pressure; used more broadly for physical buttons.)
Antonyms
swipe (Involves moving your finger across the screen instead of just touching it.)
Themes
technology
|daily life
|communication
|daily_life
Definition
To choose something on a phone or tablet by touching it with your finger.
To choose or activate something on a touchscreen or similar device by lightly touching it.
NOUN
A1
3
csap
A2
She turned on the tap and filled the kettle.
Megnyitotta a csapot, és megtöltötte a vízforralót.
There's a drip coming from the kitchen tap.
Csöpög a konyhai csap.
Make sure you turn off the tap before leaving.
Learner examples
Turn on the tap to get water.
Nyisd ki a csapot, hogy vizet engedj.
The tap in my bathroom is broken.
Elromlott a csap a fürdőszobámban.
Please close the tap after use.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'tap' with 'faucet'; both mean the same but usage varies by region.
Meaning
Device for controlling liquid flow
Collocations
turn on the tap
|leaky tap
|water tap
Synonyms
faucet ('Faucet' is more common in American English; 'tap' is common in British English.)
Antonyms
stopper (Blocks liquid flow rather than allowing it.)
Themes
daily life
|household
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A device you turn on and off to let water or other liquid out.
A device fitted to a pipe or container that controls the release of liquid or gas.
VERB
B1
4
megcsapol
B2
Usage pattern:
to tap [source] for [liquid]
They tapped the keg for the party.
Megcsapolták a hordót a bulira.
Farmers tap maple trees in spring for syrup.
A gazdák tavasszal megcsapolják a juharfákat a sziruphoz.
We tapped the barrel to taste the wine.
Learner examples
We tap the tree for sap.
Megcsapoljuk a fát a nedvéért.
He tapped the keg for beer.
Megcsapolta a hordót, hogy sört engedjen belőle.
They tap water from the well.
Meaning
Draw liquid from source
Collocations
tap a keg
|tap a maple tree
|tap water
Synonyms
draw (More general term for taking out liquid; not specific to taps.)
Themes
daily life
|food and drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To take liquid from something, like getting water from a tap or sap from a tree.
To get liquid from a container, pipe, or natural source, often by using a tap or making a small hole.
VERB
B2
5
Usage pattern:
to tap [someone/something] for [resource/skill]
The company tapped her expertise for the new project.
A cég az ő szakértelmét vette igénybe az új projekthez.
We need to tap into local knowledge.
Támaszkodnunk kell a helyi tudásra.
He tapped his network of contacts to find investors.
Learner examples
We tap his skill for this work.
Ehhez a munkához igénybe vesszük a képességeit.
She taps into her friends for help.
A barátai segítségét veszi igénybe.
They tap local knowledge for ideas.
Meaning
Use someone's skill or resource
Collocations
tap into talent
|tap resources
|tap potential
Synonyms
utilize ('Utilize' is more formal and technical in tone.)
Antonyms
waste (To fail to use available resources effectively.)
Themes
business
|communication
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To use someone's ideas, skills, or energy for something you want to do.
To make use of someone's skills, knowledge, or resources for a purpose.
VERB
B2
6
lehallgat
B2
Usage pattern:
to tap [phone/line/conversation]
The police tapped his phone during the investigation.
A rendőrség a nyomozás alatt lehallgatta a telefonját.
They suspected their calls were being tapped.
Azt gyanították, hogy lehallgatják a hívásaikat.
Journalists discovered that their voicemails had been illegally tapped.
Learner examples
The police tap his phone.
A rendőrség lehallgatja a telefonját.
They tap our calls without permission.
Engedély nélkül lehallgatják a hívásainkat.
Someone taps her phone line.
Meaning
Listen secretly to communication
Collocations
tap a phone line
|illegally tap calls
Synonyms
bug ('Bug' can refer more generally to placing a listening device in any location, not just phones.)
Themes
security
|crime
|communication
|law
|technology
Definition
To listen secretly to someone's phone calls by using special equipment.
To connect a device to a phone line or other communication channel in order to listen secretly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tap
IPA
GB/tˈæp/
US/tˈæp/
Syllables & stress
tap (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tap)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tap
- Plural: taps
Verb
- Base: tap
- 3rd Person Singular: taps
- Present Participle: tapping
- Past: tapped
Word family
Forms
taps
noun
tapping
verb
tapped
verb
Negative and opposite forms
untapped
adjective
Advanced or less common
wiretap
verb
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: tapping Verb
- Irregular past: tapped Verb
Expressions
on tap
1/ˈɔn tˈæp/
fixed phrase
Available for immediate use or serving (esp. drinks)
Available at any time; drinks served from a barrel or container through a tap.
Examples
- They have several craft beers on tap at the bar.
- Help is always on tap if you need it.
tap dance around (something)
1/tˈæp dˈæns ɚˈaʊnd sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
Avoid addressing an issue directly
To avoid talking about something directly by talking about other things instead.
Examples
- The politician kept tap dancing around the question about taxes.
- Stop tap dancing around the issue and tell me what happened.
tap into
1/tˈæp ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
Make use of available resource
To use something that already exists, like skills, energy, or information.
Examples
- We need to tap into our employees' creativity.
- The campaign taps into public anger about corruption.
tap out
1/tˈæp ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
Give up in combat sports context
To signal that you want to stop fighting because you can't continue, usually by tapping your opponent or the floor.
Examples
- After being caught in a chokehold, he had no choice but to tap out.
- She refused to tap out despite being exhausted.