What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Tapped vs Patted - What's the difference?

tapped | patted |

As verbs the difference between tapped and patted

is that tapped is past tense of tap while patted is past tense of pat.

tapped

English

Verb

(head)
  • (tap)

  • 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

    * * * * ----

    patted

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (pat)

  • pat

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . For loss of ''l , compare (patch) for (platch); (pate) for (plate), etc. See (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat object, especially of a footstep
  • A light tap or slap, especially with the hands
  • A flattish lump of soft matter, especially butter or dung.
  • * Charles Dickens
  • It looked like a tessellated work of pats of butter.
    Derived terms
    * pat on the back (n.) * patter * pitter-pat: a diminutive of footfalls. "the pitter-pat of little feet running around the house."

    Verb

    (patt)
  • To (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing.
  • To show affection, he decided he would pat the boy on the head.
  • * 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 22[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/22]
  • He came round to each of us to pat and speak to us for the last time; his voice sounded very sad.
  • To hit lightly and repeatedly with the flat of the hand to make smooth or flat
  • I patted the cookie dough into shape.
  • * 1900 , L. Frank Baum , The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23
  • Before they went to see Glinda, however, they were taken to a room of the Castle, where Dorothy washed her face and combed her hair, and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane, and the Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape, and the Woodman polished his tin and oiled his joints.
  • (Australia, New Zealand) To stroke or fondle (an animal).
  • Do you want to pat the cat?
  • To gently rain.
  • Derived terms
    * pat down * pat on the back (v.)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • timely, suitable, apt, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken
  • a pat expression
  • * 1788, Cowper, Pity for Africans , p 18
  • A story so pat , you may think it is coined.
  • trite, being superficially complete, lacking originality
  • * 2010, New York Times , Editorial: Jobs and the Class of 2010, May 23.
  • The pat answer is that college students should consider graduate school as a way to delay a job search until things turn around, and that more high school students should go to college to improve their prospects. ''
    Derived terms
    * pat hand

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • opportunely, in a timely or suitable way.
  • * c''. 1600 , William Shakespeare, '' III.iii
  • Now might I do it pat
  • Perfectly.
  • He has the routine down pat .
    Derived terms
    * pat in the middle

    See also

    * strike * hit * feel * name

    Etymology 2

    Abbreviation.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • patent
  • (knitting) pattern
  • * 2012 , Kari Cornell, Knitting Sweaters from around the World (page 52)
  • Work in pat to next underarm marker, sm, place next st on holder

    Anagrams

    * ----