First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1sap
noun \ˈsap\
Definition of SAP
1
a : the fluid part of a plant; specifically : a watery solution that circulates through a plant's vascular system b (1) : a body fluid (as blood) essential to life, health, or vigor (2) : bodily health and vigor
2
: a foolish gullible person
3
— sap·less \ˈsa-pləs\ adjective
— sap·less·ness \-nəs\ noun
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Origin of SAP
Middle English, from Old English sæp; akin to Old High German saf sap
Other Botany Terms
2sap
transitive verb
sappedsap·ping
Definition of SAP
1
: to drain or deprive of sap
2
: to knock out with a sap
First Known Use of SAP
1725
Other Botany Terms
3sap
verb
sappedsap·ping
Definition of SAP
intransitive verb
: to proceed by digging a sap
transitive verb
1
: to subvert by digging or eroding the substratum or foundation : undermine
2
a : to gradually diminish the supply or intensity of <sapped her strength> b : to weaken or exhaust the energy or vitality of <the illness sapped him of his stamina>
3
: to operate against or pierce by a sap
Origin of SAP
Middle French sapper, from Old Italian zappare, from zappa hoe
First Known Use: 1598
Synonym Discussion of SAP
weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, cripple, disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor. weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power <a disease that weakens the body's defenses> . enfeeble implies an obvious and pitiable condition of weakness and helplessness <enfeebled by starvation>. debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality <the debilitating effects of surgery>. undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously <a poor diet undermines your health> <drugs had sapped his ability to think>. cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element <crippled by arthritis>. disable suggests a usually sudden crippling or enfeebling <disabled soldiers received an immediate discharge>.
4sap
noun
Definition of SAP
: the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications
Origin of SAP
French sape, from saper
First Known Use: 1642
SAP[1] Defined for Kids
1sap
noun \ˈsap\
Definition of SAP for Kids
: a watery juice that circulates through a plant and carries food and nutrients
2sap
verb
sappedsap·ping
Definition of SAP for Kids
: to weaken or use up little by little <… the heavy load they dragged sapped their strength severely. — Jack London, The Call of the Wild>
Medical Dictionary
sap
Learn More About SAP
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