sap

Sap is sugary water that is found in the vascular system of some plants or a gullible person who can easily be tricked.

(noun)

  1. An example of sap is what is collected from a maple tree to make maple syrup.
  2. An example of sap is a person who falls for a trick.

To sap is to weaken someone or to destroy their spirit, energy or power, especially when done slowly over time.

(verb)

An example of sap is a teen who is rebellious and continually drains the energy of her parents.

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See sap in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. the juice that circulates through a plant, esp. a woody plant, bearing water, food, etc. to the tissues
  2. any fluid vital to the life or health of an organism
  3. vigor; vitality
  4. Origin: < saphead

    Slang a stupid person; fool

Origin: ME < OE sæp, akin to Ger saft < IE base *sab-, var. of *sap-, to taste, perceive > L sapere, to taste, know

transitive verb sapped, sapping

to drain of sap

Related Forms:

noun

an extended, narrow trench for approaching or undermining an enemy position or fortification

Origin: MFr sappe < the v.

transitive verb sapped, sapping

  1. to undermine by digging away foundations; dig beneath
  2. to undermine in any way; weaken; exhaust

Origin: MFr sapper < sappe, a hoe < VL sappa, orig. he-goat, prob. < Illyrian *zapp-

intransitive verb

  1. to dig saps
  2. to approach an enemy's position by saps

noun

Slang a blackjack, short club, etc.

Origin: prob. orig. contr. < sapling

transitive verb sapped, sapping

Slang to hit on the head, or knock out, with a sap

See sap in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. The watery fluid that circulates through a plant, carrying food and other substances to the various tissues.
    b. The fluid contents of a plant cell vacuole.
  2. An essential bodily fluid.
  3. Health and energy; vitality.
  4. Slang A gullible person; a dupe.
  5. A leather-covered hand weapon; a blackjack.
transitive verb sapped sapped, sap·ping, saps
  1. To drain of sap.
  2. To hit or knock out with a sap.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English sǽp

.

noun
A covered trench or tunnel dug to a point near or within an enemy position.
verb sapped sapped, sap·ping, saps
verb, transitive
  1. To undermine the foundations of (a fortification).
  2. To deplete or weaken gradually.
verb, intransitive
To dig a sap.

Origin:

Origin: Obsolete French sappe

Origin: or Italian zappa, hoe

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: and Old Italian

Origin: , both from Late Latin sappa

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