tap (1) — OAT

tap1

noun

1 she turned the cold tap on full:

valve, spout, stopcock, cock, spile;

North American faucet, spigot.

2 they were found attempting to place a phone tap in the embassy:

listening device, wiretap, wire, bug, bugging device, hidden microphone, receiver.

□ on tap

1 there are about half a dozen beers on tap:

on draft, cask-conditioned, real-ale, from barrels, not bottled/canned.

2 informal trained staff are on tap from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.:

on hand, to hand, at hand, available, ready, handy, accessible, obtainable, in reserve, standing by.

verb

1 several barrels had been tapped to celebrate:

draw liquid from, drain, bleed, milk;

broach, open, pierce, puncture.

2 in the cellar, butlers were tapping ale:

pour (out), draw off, siphon off, pump out, decant, extract, withdraw, remove.

3 the party leaders say that their telephones are tapped:

listen in on/to, wiretap, eavesdrop on, spy on, monitor, overhear;

informal bug, snoop on, get on record.

4 its resources were to be tapped for the benefit of all mankind:

draw on, exploit, milk, make use of, put to use, use, utilize, open up, mine, turn to account.