- sap
- sap1noun1》 the fluid, chiefly water with dissolved sugars and mineral salts, circulating in the vascular system of a plant.2》 vigour or energy.verb (saps, sapping, sapped) gradually weaken (a person's strength or power).↘(sap someone of) drain someone of (strength or power).Derivativessapless adjectiveOriginOE sæp, prob. of Gmc origin; the verb is derived orig. from the verb sap2, in the sense 'undermine'.————————sap2noun historical a tunnel or trench to conceal an assailant's approach to a fortified place.verb (saps, sapping, sapped)1》 historical dig a sap.2》 archaic make insecure by removing the foundations.3》 [often as noun sapping] Geography undercut by water or glacial action.OriginC16: from Fr. saper, from Ital. zappare, from zappa 'spade, spadework', prob. from Arab. sarab 'underground passage', or sabora 'probe a wound, explore'.————————sap3noun informal, chiefly N. Amer. a foolish person.OriginC19: abbrev. of dialect sapskull 'person with a head like sapwood'.————————sap4 USinformal, datednoun a bludgeon or club.verb (saps, sapping, sapped) hit with a sap.OriginC19: abbrev. of sapling.
English new terms dictionary. 2014.