rap

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rap [noun] (MUSIC)

a type of popular music with a strong rhythm in which the words are spoken, not sung

US /ræp/ 
UK /ræp/ 
Example: 

a rap artist /star

Oxford Essential Dictionary

 noun

1 a quick knock:
I heard a rap on the door.

2 (music) a type of modern music in which singers speak the words of a song very quickly:
a rap song

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

rap

I. rap1 /ræp/ BrE AmE noun
[Sense 1: Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Perhaps from repartee]
[Sense 2-7: Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Probably from the sound]
1. MUSIC [uncountable and countable] (also rap music) a type of popular music in which the words of a song are not sung, but spoken in time to music with a steady beat:
a popular rap song
2. KNOCK [countable] a series of quick sharp hits or knocks ⇨ tap:
She was woken by a sharp rap on the door.
3. CRIME [countable] American English informal a statement by the police saying that someone is responsible for a serious crime SYN charge
murder/robbery etc rap
The kid’s been cited twice on drunk-driving raps. ⇨ ↑rap sheet
4. take the rap (for something) to be blamed or punished for a mistake or crime, especially unfairly:
Bo was left to take the rap for Victor’s murder.
5. beat the rap American English informal to avoid being punished for a crime
6. a rap on/over the knuckles
a) informal a punishment or criticism that is not very severe:
The New York Post received an official rap over the knuckles for the way it reported the story.
b) if someone gives a child a rap on the knuckles, they hit them on the back of their hand as a punishment
7. a bum/bad rap especially American English informal unfair treatment or punishment:
Cleveland always gets a bum rap in the press.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

rap

rap [rap raps rapped rapping] noun, verb   [ræp]    [ræp] 

noun
1. countable a quick sharp hit or knock

• There was a sharp rap on the door.

2. uncountable a type of popular music with a fast strong rhythm and words which are spoken fast, not sung

• a rap song/artist

 

3. countable a rap song

4. countable (NAmE, informal) a criminal conviction (= the fact of being found guilty of a crime)

• a police rap sheet (= a record of the crimes sb has committed)

5. singular (NAmE, informal) an unfair judgement on sth or sb
He denounced the criticisms as ‘just one bum rap after another.’
Wolves get a bad rap, says a woman who owns three.
more at beat the rap at  beat  v.  
Word Origin:
Middle English (originally in the senses ‘severe blow with a weapon’ and ‘deliver a heavy blow’): probably imitative and of Scandinavian origin; compare with Swedish rappa ‘beat, drub’, also with the verb clap  and flap.  
Culture:
Rap music first became popular in the early 1980s and well-known performers include Snoop (Doggy) Dog, 50 cent, the Beastie Boys and Eminem. There are many styles of rap and it has had important influence on other types of popular music. Some bands combine aspects of jazz and rap music while others, such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers mix it with rock and funk. It is also important to the music of many nu metal bands. One style of the music, gangsta rap, is often criticized for its violent songs.
See also hip hop

Example Bank:
a rap on the knuckles
one of the biggest artists on the rap scene
He denounced the criticisms as ‘just one bum rap after another’.
• Wolves get a bad rap, says a woman who owns three.

Idioms: rap on the knuckles  rap somebody on the knuckles  rap somebody's knuckles  take the rap 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

rap / ræp / noun [ U ] (MUSIC)

A2 a type of popular music with a strong rhythm in which the words are spoken, not sung:

a rap artist /star

 

rap / ræp / noun [ C or U ] mainly US slang (PUNISHMENT)

a statement accusing someone of a crime, or the punishment that someone is given for a crime:

He always said he was jailed on a bum rap (= false accusation) .

The police caught him, but somehow he managed to beat the rap (= escape punishment) .

I'm not going to take the rap for you (= be punished for something you did) .

 

rap / ræp / noun [ C ] US slang (JUDGMENT)

a judgment or a reaction:

The new show got a bum/bad rap (= was severely criticized) in all the papers.

 

rap / ræp / noun [ C ] (HIT)

a sudden short noise, especially one made by hitting a hard surface:

There was a series of raps on the window.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

rap

[ræ_p]
 raps, rapping, rapped
 1) N-UNCOUNT: oft N n Rap is a type of music in which the words are not sung but are spoken in a rapid, rhythmic way.
  For some people, rap - the music of the hip-hop generation - is just so much noise...
  Her favorite music was by Run DMC, a rap group.
 2) VERB Someone who raps performs rap music.
  ...the unexpected pleasure of hearing the Kids not only rap but even sing...
  [V about n] New Yorkers rap about parties and clubs, I rap about car chases and guns.
 3) N-COUNT A rap is a piece of music performed in rap style, or the words that are used in it.
  Every member contributes to the rap, singing either solo or as part of a rap chorus.
 4) VERB If you rap on something or rap it, you hit it with a series of quick blows.
  [V on n] Mary Ann turned and rapped on Simon's door.
  [V n] ...rapping the glass with the knuckles of his right hand...
  [V n on n] A guard raps his stick on a metal hand rail.
 N-COUNT: usu N on n
 Rap is also a noun. There was a sharp rap on the door.
 5) N-COUNT: oft adj N for n/-ing A rap is a statement in a court of law that someone has committed a particular crime, or the punishment for committing it. [AM, INFORMAL]
  You'll be facing a Federal rap for aiding and abetting an escaped convict.
 6) N-COUNT: usu sing A rap is an act of criticizing or blaming someone. [JOURNALISM]
  Paul Ringer faces a rap after playing for Penarth on Boxing Day...
  Timeshare companies also come in for a rap as they continue to flout the rules.
 7) VERB If you rap someone for something, you criticize or blame them for it. [JOURNALISM]
  [V n for/over n] Water industry chiefs were rapped yesterday for failing their customers...
  [V n for/over n] The minister rapped banks over their treatment of small businesses.
  Syn:
  criticize
 8) N-SING: usu with supp The rap about someone or something is their reputation, often a bad reputation which they do not deserve. [AM, INFORMAL]
  The rap against Conn was that he was far too reckless...
  The rap on this guy is that he doesn't really care...
  He said statisticians gave them a bad rap by `lying with figures'.
 9) VERB If you rap with someone about something, you talk about it in a relaxed or informal way. [AM, INFORMAL]
  [V about n] Today we are going to rap about relationships. [Also V with n]
 10) PHRASE: V inflects If someone in authority raps your knuckles or raps you on the knuckles, they criticize you or blame you for doing something they think is wrong. [JOURNALISM]
  We rap the manufacturers on their knuckles if the toy is shoddy...
  I joined the workers on strike and was rapped over the knuckles...
  Ms Tyson also had her knuckles rapped for doing this.
 11) PHRASE: PHR after v If someone in authority gives you a rap on the knuckles, they criticize you or blame you for doing something they think is wrong. [JOURNALISM]
  The remark earned him a rap on the knuckles...
  Britain gave them a diplomatic rap over the knuckles.
 12) PHRASE: V inflects If you take the rap, you are blamed or punished for something, especially something that is not your fault or for which other people are equally guilty. [INFORMAL]
  When the client was murdered, his wife took the rap, but did she really do it?
 13) PHRASE: V inflects If you beat the rap, you avoid being blamed for something wrong that you have done. [INFORMAL]
  ...their decision to help Minnie beat the murder rap.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - rap out

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

3rap noun, pl raps
1 [noncount] : a type of music that has words that are spoken with the rhythm instead of being sung
• He listens mostly to rap.
- often used before another noun
• a rap album/artist/group/song
rap music
2 [count] : a rap song
• He performed a rap.

- compare 1rap