English Lexicon

Rap

/ræp/
verbnounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #2500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A genre of music in which rhythmic and often rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment.

    "He loves to listen to rap music while driving."
As verb
  1. 1

    To speak or perform in a rhythmic manner, often in the context of music.

    "She can rap her favorite verses flawlessly."

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Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Middle English verbs meaning to strike sharply, which evolved in the 16th century to mean to utter quickly. The modern musical sense emerged in the 20th century in African American Vernacular English as an abbreviation of repartee, meaning to talk or converse.

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