tapping

IPA/ˈtæp.ɪŋ/
KK[tˈæpɪŋ]IPA/ˈtæp.ɪŋ/

tapping — noun

  • tappingsingular
  • tappingsplural

1. a light knocking noise created when something touches a surface gently again and

1.名詞B1
釋義

a light knocking noise created when something touches a surface gently again and again

例句

A faint tapping came from the window during the midnight storm.

tapping + came from [place] for repeated sound

We heard steady tapping under the sink after the pipe cracked.

同義詞
  • knocking

    the nearest everyday word; often stronger than the lighter sound in tapping

  • patter

    usually a softer series of quick small sounds, often from rain or feet

  • rap

    often one sharper knock rather than a gentle repeated sound

反義詞
  • silence

    used when there is no repeated contact noise at all

用法筆記

Use this sense when attention is on the noise itself. Sense 2 is about the repeated movement that produces the noise.

常見錯誤

❌We heard tapping music from the hallway.
✅We heard tapping at the door from the hallway.
💡this sense names a repeated knocking noise, not a style of music.

2. the act of lightly striking a surface again and again, often with fingers or fee

2.名詞B2
釋義

the act of lightly striking a surface again and again, often with fingers or feet

例句

Eli's tapping on the glass told the diver to swim upward.

tapping on [surface] used as a signal

The audience joined the tapping of their feet during the encore.

同義詞
  • drumming

    often faster and heavier than tapping, especially with fingers

  • patting

    usually softer and flatter in movement, often with the whole hand

  • beating

    much stronger and more forceful than gentle tapping

反義詞

用法筆記

Use with nouns naming hands, fingers, feet, screens, or tables when the repeated movement matters more than the noise. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the sound that is heard.

常見錯誤

❌The tapping of the bell lasted all morning.
✅The ringing of the bell lasted all morning.
💡tapping is a repeated light contact, not the continuing sound of a bell.

3. the secret placing of equipment on a phone line so calls can be listened to

3.名詞C1
釋義

the secret placing of equipment on a phone line so calls can be listened to

例句

Police denied any tapping of the reporter's office phone.

legal context: tapping of a phone line

The court approved tapping only after other methods failed.

同義詞
  • wiretapping

    the more explicit term when the monitored line or device is stated

  • bugging

    broader; can involve rooms or devices, not only phones

  • surveillance

    much wider in meaning; tapping is one specific form of surveillance

反義詞
  • privacy

    state where calls are not secretly monitored

用法筆記

Usually appears in police, court, political, or privacy contexts. It often refers either to authorized monitoring or to illegal listening done without permission.

常見錯誤

❌The office used tapping to transfer files faster.
✅The office used tracking software to transfer files faster.
💡this sense is about secretly listening to phone calls, not monitoring computer data.

4. the process of drawing on a supply, skill, or market and putting it to practical

4.名詞C1
釋義

the process of drawing on a supply, skill, or market and putting it to practical use

例句

The charity's tapping of local volunteers cut delivery costs fast.

tapping of + people or resources

Early tapping of solar power kept the clinic open all night.

同義詞
  • use

    the broad everyday word; tapping suggests drawing value from an available source

  • draw on

    very close in meaning, especially for reserves, experience, or contacts

  • exploit

    can sound negative or overly aggressive; tapping is usually more neutral

反義詞
  • neglect

    failing to make use of a useful source or opportunity

文法句型

tapping of + resource

tapping into + market/skill/source

用法筆記

Often followed by 'of' or 'into' plus the resource being used, such as talent, markets, energy, or local knowledge. It is common in business, development, and planning writing.

常見錯誤

❌The company did tapping of three printers for the office.
✅The company bought three printers for the office.
💡this sense means making use of an existing resource, not simply obtaining an object.

5. the naming of someone for a post or duty, especially before the work officially

5.名詞C2
釋義

the naming of someone for a post or duty, especially before the work officially begins

例句

The governor's tapping of Ruiz surprised senior party leaders.

news style: tapping of + person for a role

Nadia's tapping as finance chief pleased the nervous investors.

同義詞
  • appointment

    the standard formal noun; tapping sounds more journalistic and selection-focused

  • selection

    broader and more neutral; it does not imply a named role as strongly

  • nomination

    often suggests a proposal that still needs approval, unlike a completed tapping

反義詞
  • rejection

    decision not to choose or confirm someone for the role

文法句型

tapping of + person

tapping + person + to lead

用法筆記

Common in political, business, and news writing about leaders selecting someone for an important role. It is more journalistic than the everyday noun 'appointment'.

常見錯誤

❌The tapping of the light switch surprised us.
✅The flipping of the light switch surprised us.
💡this sense is about choosing a person for a role, not touching an object.

6. the work of opening a tree and collecting the liquid that runs out through a tub

6.名詞C2
釋義

the work of opening a tree and collecting the liquid that runs out through a tube

例句

Spring tapping began once the maple grove thawed after winter.

seasonal use: spring tapping

The family's tapping of birch trees filled three buckets by noon.

同義詞

用法筆記

Most often refers to maple or birch sap collection and is closely connected with syrup-making. It usually appears in farming, forestry, or food-tourism contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The gardener did tapping to water the roses.
✅The gardener turned on the hose to water the roses.
💡this sense is about collecting tree sap, not supplying water.

7. a quick contact of the tongue against the ridge behind the teeth when making a s

7.名詞C2
釋義

a quick contact of the tongue against the ridge behind the teeth when making a speech sound

例句

The teacher demonstrated tapping before the students copied the Spanish sound.

phonetics class: demonstrate tapping in speech

Yasmin's tapping became clearer after a week of speech practice.

同義詞
  • flap

    technical phonetics term for a very similar tongue movement in speech

  • tap

    the shorter technical label; tapping names the action or process

用法筆記

Mainly used in phonetics, pronunciation teaching, or speech therapy. In everyday conversation, people usually describe the sound directly instead of calling it tapping.

常見錯誤

❌The actor practised tapping to improve his drumming.
✅The actor practised tapping to improve his pronunciation.
💡this sense is about speech sounds made by the tongue, not music on an instrument.