noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈwaɪətæp/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈwaɪɚtæp/
CMU ARPABET:W AY1 ER0 T AE2 P
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A connection installed on a telephone line or other communications system in order to allow a third party to conduct covert surveillance of conversations.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To install or to use such a connection.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
the act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tap
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: investigation, investigating
4
verb
Meaning 4
tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy
Is this hotel room bugged?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tap, intercept, bug
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: listen in, eavesdrop
History
Etymology
Back-formation from wiretapper; or else wire + tap
Across languages
Translations
42 source translations are retained for this English entry.