yap

UK: 'yap': /jæp/; 'Yap': /jɑːp/, /jæp/

US: /jæp/

US: 'yap': (yap); 'Yap': (yäp, yap)

Inflections of 'yap' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

yaps

v 3rd person singular

yapping

v pres p

yapped

v past

yapped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

yap /yæp/   v., yapped, yap•ping, n. 
v. [no object]

1. to bark sharply:
   The dogs yapped.
2. Slang Terms to talk steadily;
   gab:
   Quit yapping and get back to work.

n. 

3. [countable] a sharp bark;
   yelp.
4. Slang Terms
   • [uncountable] noisy or foolish talk.
   • [countable] mouth:
     Keep your yap shut.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

yap  (yap), v., yapped, yap•ping, n. 
v.i. 

1. to bark sharply, shrilly, or snappishly;
   yelp.
2. Slang Terms to talk shrilly, noisily, or foolishly.

v.t. 
3. to utter by yapping.

n. 
4. a sharp, shrill, or snappish bark;
   yelp.
5. Slang Terms
   • shrill, noisy, or foolish talk.
   • the mouth:
     Keep your yap shut.
6. Slang Terms an uncouth or stupid person;
   bumpkin;
   fool.
• 1595–1605; 1900–05 for def. 5b; imitative
yap′per, n. 
yap′ping•ly, adv. 

Yap  (yäp, yap), n. 

1. Place Names one of the Caroline Islands, in the W Pacific: part of the Federated States of Micronesia. 8482 including adjacent islands;
   83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km).

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

yap / jæp/ verb (yaps, yapping, yapped)(intransitive)

1. (of a dog) to bark in quick sharp bursts; yelp
2. to talk at length in an annoying or stupid way; jabber

noun

1. a high-pitched or sharp bark; yelp
2. annoying or stupid speech; jabber
3. 
   a derogatory word for mouth

Etymology: 17th Century: of imitative origin

ˈyapper noun

ˈyappy adjective

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Yap / jɑːp jæp/ noun

1. a group of four main islands in the W Pacific, in the W Caroline Islands: administratively a district of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1947; became self-governing in 1979 as part of the Federated States of Micronesia; important Japanese naval base in World War II. Pop: 11 647 (2006 est). Area: 101 sq km (39 sq miles)