Slap

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /slæp/

Definitions

1. To hit someone or something quickly with an open hand ; a sudden, loud noise made by striking a surface ; a light or casual blow given with the hand or another object
2. To deliver a quick open-handed hit to a person or object ; a sharp sound produced by a sudden impact ; a gentle or informal tap or push used playfully or lightly
3. To strike abruptly using a flat hand ; an unexpected resounding noise caused by contact ; a soft, informal smack or nudge often conveying mild emphasis

Etymology: Middle English "slappen" is the earliest recorded form, and its origin is genuinely uncertain. Scholars often suspect it is imitative, meaning it was shaped to sound like the flat, sharp crack of a palm striking skin. If so, the word would be a sound made into a verb rather than something inherited from older roots. Its relatives hint at how far the idea travelled. Low German has "Slappe" with the same sense of a blow, and from that root German gets "Schlappe," which means a defeat or setback. The Italian "sleppa" also means a slap. The German sense of defeat shows that a slap was once understood as a humiliation as well as a physical hit.

Synonyms: hit, strike, smack, whack

Antonyms: caress