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Tap vs Puncture - What's the difference?

tap | puncture |

As an initialism tap

is .

As a noun puncture is

the act or an instance of puncturing.

As a verb puncture is

to pierce; to break through; to tear a hole.

tap

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) , from the noun.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A tapering cylindrical pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask; a spigot.
  • A device used to dispense liquids.
    • We don't have bottled water; you'll have to get it from the tap .
  • Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor.
    • a liquor of the same tap
  • A place where liquor is drawn for drinking; a taproom; a bar.
  • (mechanics) A device used to cut an internal screw thread. (External screw threads are cut with a die.)
    • We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve's thread.
  • A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it.
    • The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill-advised taps along its length.
  • An interception of communication by authority.
    • Derived terms
    * taproom * taproot * tap water
    Synonyms
    * (device to dispense liquid) faucet, handle, spigot, spout

    Verb

    (tapp)
  • To furnish with taps.
  • To draw off liquid from a vessel.
    • He tapped a new barrel of beer.
  • To place a listening or recording device on a telephone or wired connection.
    • They can't tap the phone without a warrant.
  • To intercept a communication without authority.
    • He was known to tap cable television
  • (mechanical) To cut an internal screw thread.
    • Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.
    Derived terms
    * on tap * on the tap * tap into * tapped out
    Synonyms
    * (intercept communications) eavesdrop

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) tappen, teppen, from (etyl) tapper, .

    Verb

    (tapp)
  • To strike lightly.
  • To touch one's finger, foot, or other body parts on a surface (usually) repeatedly.
    • He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table.
    She tapped her companion on the back to indicate that she was ready to go.
    Lydia tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
  • To make a sharp noise.
    • The tree, swaying in the breeze, began to tap on the window pane.
  • To designate for some duty or for membership, as in 'a tap on the shoulder'.
  • (slang) To have sexual intercourse with.
    • I would tap that hot girl over there.
    I'd tap that.
  • (combat sports) To submit to an opponent by tapping one's hand repeatedly.
  • (combat sports) To force (an opponent) to submit.
  • * 2000' October 14, "K®Æz¥ k ° †€°" (username), " Kimo ' Tapped Sakuraba", in alt.ufc, Usenet:
    • Hard to believe , but 4 years can make a difference.
  • * 2003' April 2, "Eddie" (username), " I ' Tapped Somebody!", in rec.martial-arts, Usenet:
    • Just started bjj [= couple of months ago and i finally tapped' someone!!! WOOOHOO! The guy i ' tapped has been traiing a few more months than me, outweighs me by at least 30 pounds, and is in great shape from the army.
  • * 2004 April 7, "Araxen" (username), " Re: UFC vs. Boxing", in rec.sport.boxing, Usenet:
    • weighs and he still tapped Butterbean.
  • To put a new sole or heel on.
    • to tap shoes
    Synonyms
    * (sense) hit, patter, pound, rap, strike * (to make a sharp noise) bang, ping, rap * (to submit to an opponent) tap out * (to force an opponent to submit) tap out

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.
    • (Addison)
    When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.
  • (computing) The act of touching a touch screen.
  • A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel; a heeltap.
  • (military) A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed; usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.
    • (Wilhelm)

    Anagrams

    * * * * ----

    puncture

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act or an instance of puncturing.
  • * 2012 , July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track
    • A tough test for even the strongest climber, it was new to the Tour de France this year, but its debut will be remembered for the wrong reasons after one of those spectators scattered carpet tacks on the road and induced around 30 punctures among the group of riders including Bradley Wiggins, the Tour's overall leader, and his chief rivals.
  • A hole, cut, or tear created by a sharp object.
  • * 2001 , , Dutton, ISBN 0525946284, page 340,
    • Dieter's car had suffered a puncture on the RN3 road between Paris and Meaux. A bent nail was stuck in the tire.
  • * Rambler
    • A lion may perish by the puncture of an asp.

    Synonyms

    * flat tyre; (informal US) flat

    Derived terms

    * puncturer

    Verb

  • To pierce; to break through; to tear a hole.
    • The needle punctured the balloon instantly.

    Derived terms

    * aquapuncture * electropuncture * laserpuncture * punctured interval * punctured neighborhood