Advertisement

View synonyms for

harp

[ hahrp ]

noun

  1. a musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame formed by a soundbox, a pillar, and a curved neck, and having strings stretched between the soundbox and the neck that are plucked with the fingers.
  2. anything that resembles this instrument, especially in having a row of parallel strings or wires, as various mechanical devices or kitchen implements for slicing cheese.
  3. a vertical metal frame shaped to bend around the bulb in a standing lamp and used to support a lamp shade.
  4. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of Irish birth or descent.
  5. Also called harper. any of several English coins issued for use in Ireland during the 16th and 17th centuries, bearing the figure of a harp on the reverse.
  6. South Midland and Southern U.S. a mouth harp; harmonica.


verb (used without object)

  1. to play on a harp.

verb phrase

  1. to dwell on persistently or tediously in speaking or writing:

    He was always harping on the importance of taking vitamin supplements.

harp

/ ɑː /

noun

  1. a large triangular plucked stringed instrument consisting of a soundboard connected to an upright pillar by means of a curved crossbar from which the strings extend downwards. The strings are tuned diatonically and may be raised in pitch either one or two semitones by the use of pedals ( double-action harp ). Basic key: B major; range: nearly seven octaves
  2. something resembling this, esp in shape
  3. an informal name (esp in pop music) for harmonica
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. intr to play the harp
  2. archaic.
    tr to speak; utter; express
  3. intr; foll by on or upon to speak or write in a persistent and tedious manner
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

harp

  1. An instrument in the string section of the orchestra . The orchestral harp is several feet tall and has pedals that allow the harpist to change the key of the instrument as necessary.
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈ󲹰, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • 󲹰l adjective
  • ܲ·󲹰 adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of harp1

before 900; Middle English harpe, Old English hearpe; cognate with Dutch harp, German Harfe, Old Norse harpa
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of harp1

Old English hearpe; related to Old Norse harpa, Old High German harfa, Latin corbis basket, Russian korobit to warp
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Kajoba said his parents pushed him academically, but he spent a lot of his youth learning to play piano, violin and the harp while enjoying after school and weekend drama clubs.

From

On the soundtrack, you feature harp music, which is very appropriate for some scenes, but you also use anachronistic synth on the soundtrack to give the film a real vibe.

From

The annual meteor shower event will be most visible in April and is named after the constellation Lyra, the harp, located near the point in the sky where the Lyrids appear to originate.

From

Will, who works for an environmental nonprofit, argues that humans won’t be able to recycle their way out of the crisis and that harping on personal responsibility only lets corporate perpetrators off the hook.

From

The answer is that Republicans’ endless harping on patriotism has been a performative camouflage and effective inoculation against un-American acts.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Haroun-al-Raschidharper