lap1

Pronunciation: /lap/

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Definition of lap

noun

1 (usually one's lap) the flat area between the waist and knees of a seated person:come and sit on my lap
the part of an item of clothing, especially a skirt or dress, covering the lap: she stood up and brushed the crumbs from the lap of her dress

2 archaic a hanging flap on a garment or a saddle.

Phrases

fall (or drop) into someone's lap: (of something desirable) be acquired by or happen to someone without any effort being made on their part:women fall at his feet, power falls into his lap
in someone's lap: as someone’s responsibility:she dumped the problem in my lap
in the lap of the gods: (of the success of a plan or event) depending on factors that one cannot control; open to chance.
in the lap of luxury: in conditions of great comfort and wealth: Katie was living in the lap of luxury in Paris

Derivatives

lapful

Origin:

Old English læppa, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lap, German Lappen 'piece of cloth'. The word originally denoted a fold or flap of a garment (compare with lapel), later specifically one that could be used as a pocket or pouch, or the front of a skirt when held up to carry something (Middle English), hence the area between the waist and knees as a place where a child could be nursed or an object held

lap in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of lap in the US English dictionary

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Other

lap1

noun

Phrases

fall (or drop) into someone's lap

in someone's lap

in the lap of the gods

in the lap of luxury

Derivatives

lapful

Origin:

lap in other Oxford dictionaries

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