noun
slap
slap
noun
1
A quick blow with the open hand.
"She gave him a slap across the face for the insult."
verb
1
To hit someone or something with an open hand.
"He slapped the mosquito on his arm."
"She slapped him for the remark and walked out."
2
To put something down carelessly or quickly.
"He slapped a coat of paint on the fence without prepping it."
3
To impose a penalty or charge on someone.
"The city slapped a heavy fine on the company for the spill."
How to Use Slap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sharp open-handed hit, or by extension, to do something quickly and carelessly or to impose something (like a fine) abruptly.
Common pairings
slap someone
slap a fine on
slap on some paint
Word Forms
more slap comparative, slapped past tense, slaps plural, slaps singular, most slap superlative
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She gave him a _____ across the face for the insult.
Etymology
From Middle English slappen, probably imitative of the sound itself.