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“Laps” or “Lapse”

Overview

laps / lapse are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

laps: (noun) the upper side of the thighs of a seated person. (noun) an area of control or responsibility. (noun) the part of a piece of clothing that covers the thighs. (noun) a flap that lies over another part. (noun) movement once around a course. (verb) lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another. (verb) move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound. (verb) take up with the tongue.

lapse: (noun) a break or intermission in the occurrence of something. (verb) end, at least for a long time. (verb) drop to a lower level, as in one's morals or standards. (verb) let slip.

Pronunciation

laps: l·AE·p·s

lapse: l·AE·p·s

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Examples in Context

Examples of “laps”

  • to enter pit road eight laps later; he missed the entrance
  • and when Mansell pitted two laps later he was able to
  • Laps of the circuit passed through
  • With ten laps to go, Busch's power steering
  • he crashed with only five laps remaining.
  • Three laps later, Nadeau lost control of
  • During the pace laps, Busch moved to the rear
  • Robert Nearn) won by seven laps (after 990 laps) in a
  • Race distance: 83 laps – 125 miles (200 km)
  • on to lead for 91 laps, more than any other driver.

Examples of “lapse”

  • when it was allowed to lapse.
  • for Randy Halverson's astronomy time lapse film Plains Milky Way which
  • her earlier claims of a lapse in her memory.
  • and are actually designed to lapse.
  • of updrafts, and high adiabatic lapse rates promoting thunderstorm development.
  • Time lapse imaging of live zebrafish embryos
  • in 1637 and, after a lapse, revived in 1712.
  • Peter spoke of a "shameful lapse" of Haider, saying that this
  • The bill was allowed to lapse into law.
  • After a long lapse due to pressure of his


(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)


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