lapse

CEFRC1

/læps/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A failure to do something or a period that passes.

  2. 02

    verb

    To gradually become weaker or stop being active.

Examples

  • Every time we talk about this, you lapse into silence.

  • Tom began to lapse in and out of consciousness.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A decline or fall in standards.

  2. A pause in continuity.

  3. A temporary failure; a slip.

More examples

In context

  • lapse in security

  • lapse of judgment

  • memory lapse

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Because of a short blank in attention, he missed the correct exit on the highway.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle French laps, from Latin lāpsus, from lābī (“to slip”). Doublet of lapsus.