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Synonyms

yap

1 American  
[yap] / yæp /

verb (used without object)

yapped, yapping

  1. to bark sharply, shrilly, or snappishly; yelp.

  2. Slang. to talk shrilly, noisily, or foolishly.

verb (used with object)

yapped, yapping

  1. to utter by yapping.

noun

  1. a sharp, shrill, or snappish bark; yelp.

  2. Slang.

    1. shrill, noisy, or foolish talk.

    2. the mouth.

      Keep your yap shut.

  3. Slang. an uncouth or stupid person; bumpkin; fool.

Yap 2 American  
[yahp, yap] / yɑp, yæp /

noun

  1. one of the Caroline Islands, in the W Pacific: part of the Federated States of Micronesia. 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km).

yap 1 British  
/ jæp /

verb

  1. (of a dog) to bark in quick sharp bursts; yelp

  2. informal to talk at length in an annoying or stupid way; jabber

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a high-pitched or sharp bark; yelp

  2. slang annoying or stupid speech; jabber

  3. slang a derogatory word for mouth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

  1. (usually reiterated) an imitation or representation of the sound of a dog yapping or people jabbering

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Yap 2 British  
/ jɑːp, jæp /

noun

  1. a group of four main islands in the W Pacific, in the W Caroline Islands: administratively a district of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1947; became self-governing in 1979 as part of the Federated States of Micronesia; important Japanese naval base in World War II. Pop: 11 647 (2006 est). Area: 101 sq km (39 sq miles)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • yapper noun
  • yappingly adverb
  • yappy adjective

Etymology

Origin of yap

1595–1605; 1900–05 yap for def. 5b; imitative

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I’m a part of the problem, too, yapping about this silly kerfuffle six months out.

From The Wall Street Journal

Goose’s hackles rose along her back, and she began to bark in high, terrified yaps.

From Literature

“In which case, we would make sure there was none. Yap, yap!”

From Literature

Cassiopeia yapped in excitement, and then poked Beowulf, for her exclamation had sounded rather like his name.

From Literature

The children yapped in alarm, the admiral shouted words of courage, the widow wailed, and Lady Constance shrieked.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.