1
- （一般作one's lap）the flat area between the waist and knees of a seated person（人坐下时的）大腿面, 膝上：
come and sit on my lap.
来, 坐在我腿上。
1.1
- the part of an item of clothing, especially a skirt or dress, covering the lap（衣服, 尤指裙装）下摆。
2
- archaic a hanging flap on a garment or a saddle〈古〉（衣服或马鞍的）翘边。
短语
fall（或drop）into someone's lap
- (of something pleasant or desirable) come someone's way without any effort having been made（好事）轻而易举得到, 得来全不费功夫：
women fall at his feet, power falls into his lap.
女人拜倒在他脚下, 权力不请自来。
in someone's lap
- as someone's responsibility作为某人的责任：
she dumped the problem in my lap.
她把这个问题推到了我身上。
in the lap of the gods
- (of the success of a plan or event) open to chance; depending on factors that one cannot control（计划或事件的成败）听天由命。
in the lap of luxury
- in conditions of great comfort and wealth在养尊处优的环境中。
派生词
lapful
noun （pl.-fuls）词源
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 catch or 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.
1
- one circuit of a track or racetrack（跑道或赛道的）一圈。
1.1
- a stage in a swim consisting of two lengths of a pool（与泳池来回距离相等的）泳段。
1.2
- a section of a journey or other endeavour（旅程或其他活动的）一段：
we caught a cab for the last lap of our journey.
我们叫了一辆出租车完成最后一段旅程。
2
- an overlapping or projecting part重叠部分; 凸出部分。
2.1
- mass noun the amount by which one thing overlaps or covers a part of another重叠量, 覆盖程度。
2.2
- Metallurgy a defect formed in rolling when a projecting part is accidentally folded over and pressed against the surface of the metal【冶】折皱。
2.3
- (in a steam engine) the distance by which the valve overlaps the steam port (or the exhaust port)（蒸汽机）阀遮盖量。
3
- a single turn of rope, thread, or cable round a drum or reel（线绳缠绕）一圈。
3.1
- a layer or sheet, typically wound on a roller, into which cotton or wool is formed during its manufacture（棉花或羊毛加工绕辊时）一层, 一片。
4
- (in a lapping machine) a rotating disc with a coating of fine abrasive for polishing（研磨机）磨盘。
4.1
- a polishing tool of a special shape, coated or impregnated with an abrasive抛光工具。
(lapped, lapping)with obj.
1
- overtake (a competitor in a race) to become one or more laps ahead领先（赛跑竞争对手）一圈（或数圈）：
she lapped all of her rivals in the 3,000 metres.
她在3,000米赛跑中领先所有对手一圈以上。
1.1
- no obj.(of a competitor or vehicle in a race) complete a lap, especially in a specified time（赛跑选手、赛车, 尤指在一定时间内）完成一圈：
Mansell lapped two tenths of a second faster than anyone else.
曼塞尔比其他选手快0.2秒跑完了一圈。
2
lap someone/thing in
poetic/literary enfold or swathe a person or thing, especially a part of the body, in (something soft)〈诗/文〉（用软物将人或物）裹住, 包扎：he was lapped in blankets
他身上裹着几条毯子
figurative 〈喻〉I was accustomed to being lapped in luxury.
我习惯于生活在奢华之中。
3
- no obj. project beyond or overlap something凸出, 覆盖：
the blanket of snow lapped over the roofs of the house.
积雪层铺满并盖过了屋顶。
4
- polish (a gem, or a metal or glass surface) with a lapping machine用精研机抛光（宝石、金属或玻璃表面）。
词源
Middle English （as a verb in the sense 'coil， fold， or wrap'）： from LAP1 . Sense 1 of the noun and verb date from the mid 19th cent.
(lapped, lapping)with obj.
1
- (of an animal) take up (liquid) with the tongue in order to drink（动物）舔食（流体）：
the cat was lapping up a saucer of milk.
猫在舔碟中的牛奶。
1.1
lap something up
accept something eagerly and with obvious pleasure欣然接受：she's lapping up the attention.
她正欣然接受着关注。
2
- (of water) wash against (something) with a gentle rippling sound（水）冲刷, 拍打：
the waves lapped the shore
波浪冲刷着海岸
no obj. the sound of the river lapping against the banks.河水拍打河岸的声音。
in sing.
- the action of water washing gently against something水流冲刷：
listening to the comfortable lap of the waves against the shore.
倾听海浪徐徐冲刷着海岸。
词源
Old English lapian, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German and Middle Dutch lapen.