lap
lap — 名詞
1. the flat surface created by the top of your thighs when you sit down, where you
大腿
坐時大腿形成的平坦面
the flat surface created by the top of your thighs when you sit down, where you can rest objects, a book, a child, or a pet
The little girl sat quietly on her mother's lap while the story was being read.
小女孩安靜地坐在母親的腿上，聽故事朗讀。
on someone's lap
Bao balanced a bowl of noodles on his lap and ate dinner while watching television.
Bao 把一碗麵放在腿上，邊看電視邊吃晚餐。
on his lap — holding an object
A warm towel was placed across the sleeping passenger's lap by the flight attendant.
空服員將一條溫熱的毛巾放在睡著的乘客腿上。
The cat curled into a tight ball on Rania's lap and began to purr loudly.
那隻貓在 Rania 的腿上蜷成一團，大聲地發出咕嚕聲。
Adaeze spilled some juice on her lap and had to change her trousers before the meeting.
Adaeze 把果汁灑在腿上，不得不在會議前換掉褲子。
用法筆記
This sense is typically used with a possessive ('his lap', 'her lap') or in the phrase 'on someone's lap'. It is rarely used without a reference to a person.
常見錯誤
2. a single circuit of a marked course that competitors travel around more than onc
一圈
跑道或賽道的完整一圈
a single circuit of a marked course that competitors travel around more than once to decide the result of a race
The Formula One driver finished the final lap three seconds faster than his nearest rival.
那位一級方程式車手在最後一圈跑得比最接近的對手快了整整三秒。
final lap — race context
With only two laps to go, the leading runner began to slow down from exhaustion.
只剩下兩圈時，領先的跑者因為體力耗盡而開始慢下來。
laps to go
Each lap of the swimming pool measures exactly fifty metres from end to end.
游泳池的每一圈從一端到另一端正好是五十公尺。
Théo completed the first three laps in good time but struggled on the fourth.
Théo 順利完成前三圈，但在第四圈時開始感到吃力。
The race is twelve laps long, so the drivers must plan when to change their tyres carefully.
這場比賽全長十二圈，因此車手必須仔細規劃何時更換輪胎。
常見錯誤
3. a celebratory circuit of the playing area that the victor of a competition compl
繞場慶祝
優勝者繞場一圈慶祝
a celebratory circuit of the playing area that the victor of a competition completes to share the win with the audience
After winning the hundred-metre race, Elena took a victory lap and waved to the cheering crowd.
贏得一百公尺比賽後，Elena 繞場跑了一圈勝利圈，向歡呼的群眾揮手致意。
victory lap
The home team ran a lap of honour around the stadium while the supporters sang the club song.
主場球隊繞著體育場跑了一圈榮譽圈，球迷們高唱隊歌。
lap of honour
The champion cyclist lifted her bike above her head during her celebration lap.
那位冠軍自行車手在慶祝圈中將腳踏車高舉過頭頂。
Hyun completed a slow victory lap carrying his country's flag around the entire arena.
Hyun 背著國旗，緩緩地繞著整個場館跑完勝利圈。
- victory lap
the most common term for this celebration run
- lap of honour
the British English equivalent, equally common in the UK
用法筆記
Commonly called a 'victory lap' or 'lap of honour'. The phrase 'lap of honour' is more common in British English. This sense is distinct from sense 2 (a regular race lap) because its purpose is celebration, not competition.
4. one distinct part within a longer trip, a series of tasks, or a broader activity
階段
旅程或工作的其中一段
one distinct part within a longer trip, a series of tasks, or a broader activity, treated as a separate portion
The first lap of our road trip took us from Taipei all the way down to Kaohsiung.
我們這趟公路旅行的第一段路程，是從台北一路開到高雄。
lap of a journey
We have completed the design lap of the project and are ready to start building the prototype.
我們已經完成了專案的設計階段，準備開始製作原型。
lap of a project
Each lap of the relay race was run by a different member of the team.
接力賽的每一棒都是由不同隊員負責跑的。
The negotiation process has entered its final lap, with only a few details left to agree on.
談判過程已進入最後階段，只剩下幾個細節需要達成共識。
Lakshmi divided the cleaning work into several laps so it would feel less tiring overall.
Lakshmi 把清潔工作分成好幾個階段，這樣整體感覺就不會太累。
用法筆記
This sense is used figuratively, extending the racing metaphor to non-competitive contexts like work, travel, or any step-by-step process. It is less common in everyday speech than senses 1 and 2.
常見錯誤
5. a part of something, especially cloth, paper, or material, that folds over or li
重疊部分
布料等物體重疊或垂下的部分
a part of something, especially cloth, paper, or material, that folds over or lies on top of another part, or a loose piece that hangs down
The tailor carefully stitched the lap of the jacket lining so that it lay perfectly flat.
裁縫師仔細地縫好外套內裡的重疊部分，使其平整服貼。
lap of a garment
There was a small lap of extra paper at the edge of the envelope that needed to be folded in.
信封邊緣多出一小塊紙需要摺進去。
The fabric was cut with a two-centimetre lap to allow room for the seam.
布料裁剪時預留了兩公分的重疊量，以供縫製接縫。
When wrapping the gift, Joshua made sure each lap of the paper covered the previous edge neatly.
包禮物時，Joshua 確保每一層包裝紙都整齊地蓋住前一層的邊緣。
用法筆記
This sense is mostly used in sewing, tailoring, and crafts. It is the original historical meaning from which the 'upper legs' sense developed — the idea of a fold or flap. Modern speakers rarely encounter this use outside of technical contexts.
lap — 動詞
1. to pass another competitor in a race by being a full circuit ahead of them, mean
領先一圈
比賽中比對手多跑一圈
to pass another competitor in a race by being a full circuit ahead of them, meaning you have completed one more lap than they have
By the middle of the race the champion had lapped everyone else on the track twice.
比賽進行到一半時，那位冠軍選手已經把其他所有賽道上的選手都套了兩圈。
lapped everyone else
The faster runners quickly lapped the slower participants who had started the race earlier.
跑得快的選手很快就超越了那些較早出發但速度較慢的參賽者整整一圈。
lap + slower participants
Otis was worried that the leading cyclist would lap him before the final bend.
Otis 擔心領先的自行車手會在最後一個彎道前套他一圈。
Although Zola was far behind, she refused to give up even after being lapped by the front runners.
雖然 Zola 遠遠落後，但即使被領先選手套圈，她仍拒絕放棄。
文法句型
lap + person/competitor
用法筆記
This verb is almost always used in a racing context. The competitor being 'lapped' is behind by at least one full circuit. The passive form ('was lapped') is common when describing the slower competitor's experience.
常見錯誤
2. to travel one complete distance around a track, a course, or any defined circuit
跑一圈
繞著跑道完整跑一圈
to travel one complete distance around a track, a course, or any defined circuit
The skater lapped the rink in under thirty seconds during her warm-up routine.
那位溜冰選手在熱身時花了不到三十秒就繞完了一圈冰場。
lapped the rink
Each runner lapped the four-hundred-metre track four times to complete the one-mile race.
每位跑者繞著四百公尺跑道跑四圈，以完成一英里賽程。
lapped the [distance] track
The speedboat lapped the small lake in just a few minutes before returning to the dock.
快艇在短短幾分鐘內繞了小湖一圈，然後返回碼頭。
Christopher lapped the indoor circuit twice and then checked his stopwatch for the time.
Christopher 繞室內場地跑了兩圈，然後查看碼錶上的時間。
- circle
can be used for moving around something, but does not imply a race track
- circumnavigate
very formal, used for going around an island or the world
文法句型
lap + the track/course
lap + distance
用法筆記
Distinguish this from sense 1: here the object of 'lap' is the track or course itself ('lap the track'), while in sense 1 the object is another competitor ('lap someone'). This sense focuses on covering the distance rather than overtaking.
3. to take in a liquid using rapid tongue motions, the way that a cat or dog drinks
舔飲
動物用舌頭快速舔取液體
to take in a liquid using rapid tongue motions, the way that a cat or dog drinks from a bowl
The thirsty dog lapped the cool water from his bowl as soon as it was filled.
那隻口渴的狗一看到碗裝滿了水，馬上用舌頭大口地舔飲涼水。
lap + liquid from bowl
A small cat sat by the puddle and lapped at the rainwater with its tiny pink tongue.
一隻小貓蹲在水坑旁邊，用小小的粉紅舌頭舔著雨水。
lap at + liquid
The kittens lapped up the warm milk so fast that they started sneezing from the excitement.
那些小貓把溫牛奶舔得一乾二淨，速度快到開始打噴嚏。
Bao watched the puppy lap noisily at the bowl, splashing water across the kitchen floor.
Bao 看著那隻小狗大聲地舔著碗，把水濺得廚房地板到處都是。
After the long walk in the sun, the dog lapped eagerly from the water bottle that Iris held out.
在烈日下走了很長一段路之後，那隻狗急切地舔著 Iris 遞過來的水瓶裡的水。
- gulp
to swallow quickly and in large amounts; the opposite of the small-tongue-stroke action
文法句型
lap + liquid
lap at + liquid
lap up + liquid
用法筆記
This verb is used almost exclusively for animals, especially cats and dogs. Using it for humans would be strange unless comparing the person to an animal. The phrasal verb 'lap up' is also used figuratively to mean 'accept eagerly' (e.g. 'He lapped up the praise').
常見錯誤
4. (of waves, water, or a liquid) to wash against something with a soft, gentle, re
輕拍
波浪輕輕拍打發出柔和聲音
(of waves, water, or a liquid) to wash against something with a soft, gentle, repeated sound, without force or violence
The waves lapped gently against the side of the wooden boat as the sun went down.
太陽下山時，波浪輕輕拍打著木船的船舷。
lap against [object]
Small ripples lapped at the sandy shore where the children were building a castle.
細小的漣漪輕拍著沙灘，孩子們正在沙灘上堆沙堡。
lap at [shore/bank]
The rising tide lapped over the bottom step of the stone staircase leading to the sea.
漲潮的海水輕輕拍打著通往大海的石階最下面一級。
Adaeze listened to the water lapping against the hull of the sailboat as she fell asleep.
Adaeze 在入睡前聽著海水輕拍帆船船殼的聲音。
Rainwater lapped at the edges of the garden path, forming small puddles in the cracks.
雨水輕拍著花園小徑的邊緣，在裂縫中形成了一個個小水坑。
- crash
strong, violent wave action — the opposite of the gentle sense of 'lap'
文法句型
lap against + object
lap at + object
lap over + object
用法筆記
This sense is most common in descriptive or literary writing. The sound of water 'lapping' is soft and rhythmic — not crashing or splashing. The subject is usually water (waves, tide, ripples) and the object is typically a shore, boat, or bank.
常見錯誤
5. to place or arrange one thing so that it partly covers another, or to fold somet
重疊
將一部分覆蓋在另一部分上
to place or arrange one thing so that it partly covers another, or to fold something back over itself, especially cloth, paper, or building materials
The carpenter lapped the wooden boards over each other to create a strong joint.
木匠將木板互相重疊，以打造一個堅固的接頭。
lap [board A] over [board B]
The roof tiles were carefully lapped so that rain would run off without leaking through.
屋頂瓦片被仔細地疊放，使雨水能夠流走而不會滲漏進來。
passive: were lapped
Élise lapped the edge of the fabric over the hem and pinned it in place before sewing.
Élise 將布料的邊緣疊在摺邊上，用別針固定好之後才開始縫紉。
The sash was lapped twice around his waist and tied securely at the front.
那條腰帶在他的腰間繞了兩圈，在前方牢牢繫緊。
When laying the carpet, make sure each strip laps the previous one by at least two inches.
鋪地毯時，務必讓每一條地毯至少重疊前一條兩英吋。
- separate
to move things apart, the opposite of laying one over another
文法句型
lap + object + over/across + object
be lapped
用法筆記
This sense is the historical root of the word 'lap' and is still used in construction, sewing, and crafts. It is rarely used in everyday conversation. The modern word 'overlap' is far more common than 'lap' in this meaning.