Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One that taps.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who or that which operates a screw-cutting tap for threading holes.
  • noun A hammer for striking a bell or chime.
  • noun A device for restoring a coherer to its normal resistance, after this has been affected by electric oscillations, by means of a series of slight mechanical shocks.
  • noun One who taps or draws liquor; a tapster; specifically, an innkeeper.
  • noun One who or that which taps or strikes.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Zoöl.), Prov. Eng. The lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus minor); -- called also tapperer, tabberer, little wood pie, barred woodpecker, wood tapper, hickwall, and pump borer.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun One who taps
  • noun A tap-dancer
  • noun A phone tapper or wiretapper
  • noun US A tapster
  • noun telegraphy In early wireless telegraphs, a device used to shake loose the filings of a coherer.
  • noun UK, dialect The lesser spotted woodpecker.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun someone who wiretaps a telephone or telegraph wire
  • noun a dancer who sounds out rhythms by using metal taps on the toes and heels of the shoes
  • noun a tavern keeper who taps kegs or casks
  • noun a person who strikes a surface lightly and usually repeatedly
  • noun a worker who uses a tap to cut screw threads

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

tap +‎ -er

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word tapper.

Examples

  • Environmental campaigners and Green party activists heralded a breakthrough today after a former rubber-tapper from the Brazilian Amazon who rose to be a world-famous rainforest defender became the central figure in the second round of the country's presidential election.

    Brazil election sees breakthrough for Greens and environmental agenda Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro 2010

  • They welcomed the former rubber tapper from the Amazon as a populist voice and anointed her as their a rockstar presidential candidate, even putting her on the cover of the Rolling Stone.

    Eric Ehrmann: Brazil's Greens Turn Right in Presidential Vote Eric Ehrmann 2010

  • But the thing was, the tapper was the kind of person who would complain, who might call the owners and make trouble for Clarice.

    Every Secret Thing Lippman, Laura, 1959- 2003

  • Being that I am a well seasoned laptop user and a frequent "tapper" to indicate my selections, I believe I have learned the appropriate amount of pressure and confidence one must use on a touch screen.

    Epinions Recent Content for Home 2009

  • Over time, each "tapper" picks up coding skills and becomes able to contribute more to the testing effort on their team.

    The Official Microsoft IIS Site krolson 2009

  • So many players today sulk after a pitcher induces a weakly hit tapper; others sadly, just flat out dog it.

    One Season William Fredrick Cooper 2011

  • And in the seventh, he fielded a tapper from Posada and planted a tag on his backside to retire the side.

    One Season William Fredrick Cooper 2011

  • Alex Rodriguez, all season long the source of Red Sox frustration, hit an innocent looking tapper between the mound and first base line.

    One Season William Fredrick Cooper 2011

  • I floated the barrel, bedded the action too just in front of the start of the barrel tapper, glassed the rails and tang.

    Are Ruger Model 77s Accurate Rifles? I Wonder. 2009

  • I floated the barrel, bedded the action too just in front of the start of the barrel tapper, glassed the rails and tang.

    Are Ruger Model 77s Accurate Rifles? I Wonder. 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.