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)- An example of sap is what is collected from a maple tree to make maple syrup.
- 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.
See sap in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- the juice that circulates through a plant, esp. a woody plant, bearing water, food, etc. to the tissues
- any fluid vital to the life or health of an organism
- vigor; vitality
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
Related Forms:
- sapless adjective
noun
Origin: MFr sappe < the v.
transitive verb sapped, sapping
- to undermine by digging away foundations; dig beneath
- to undermine in any way; weaken; exhaust
Origin: MFr sapper < sappe, a hoe < VL sappa, orig. he-goat, prob. < Illyrian *zapp-
intransitive verb
- to dig saps
- to approach an enemy's position by saps
See sap in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- 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.
- An essential bodily fluid.
- Health and energy; vitality.
- Slang A gullible person; a dupe.
- A leather-covered hand weapon; a blackjack.
- To drain of sap.
- To hit or knock out with a sap.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old English sǽp
.noun
- To undermine the foundations of (a fortification).
- To deplete or weaken gradually.
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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