tantalize
1420
the speaker's voice to be heard all over a large building or area: *We heard the announcement over the tannoy: 'Flight BA009 to Bangkok is now boarding'.*
**tan·ta·lize** also **-lise** *BrE* /'tæntəlaɪz/ *v* [T] to make (someone) want something even more strongly by keeping it just out of reach: *The tantalizing smell of cooking wafted up from downstairs.* —**-lizingly** *adv*: *We were tantalizingly close to finding the solution.*
**tan·ta·lus** /'tæntəl-əs/ *n* a case in which bottles of alcoholic drink can be locked up in such a way that they can be seen
**tan·ta·mount** /'tæntəmaʊnt/ *adj* [F+to] having the same value, force, or effect as (especially something bad or unwanted): *This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war.* | *They have now abandoned their former policy, which is tantamount to admitting that it was wrong.*
**tan·trum** /'tæntrəm/ *n* a sudden attack of childish bad temper or anger: *That spoilt child always flies into a tantrum/throws a tantrum when he's contradicted.*
**Tan·za·ni·a** /ˌtænzə'niːə/ a country in East Africa between Kenya and Mozambique, formed in 1964 when Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined together to make one country. Population: 36,588,000 (2004). Capital: Dodoma. In 1998 a TERRORIST bomb exploded at the US EMBASSY, killing many Tanzanians. ➔ see also NYERERE, JULIUS —**Tanzanian** *n, adj*
**Tao** /taʊ, daʊ/ *n* [U] the natural force that unites all things in the universe, according to Taoism
**Taoi·seach, the** /'tiːʃɒk, -ʃɒx/ the title of the PRIME MINISTER of the Republic of Ireland
**Tao·ism** /'taʊɪzəm, 'daʊ-/ *n* [U] a way of thought that developed in ancient China, based on the writings of Lao Tzu, which emphasizes a natural and simple life. According to Taoism, there is a balance in the universe between the opposite forces of yin (=a passive force) and yang (=an active force). The Chinese activities of **TAI CHI** (=a form of physical exercise) and **FENG SHUI** (=the skill of arranging buildings, rooms etc to achieve a perfect balance of yin and yang) are also based on the principles of Taoism. —**-ist** *adj, n*
**tap1** /tæp/ *n* 1 also **faucet** *AmE* — an apparatus for controlling the flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container, especially one for water: *I turned on the tap and hot water came out.* | *He left the taps running and the bath overflowed.* | bathroom taps | a gas tap ➔ see picture at KITCHEN 2 an act or example of tapping (**TAP**) someone's telephone ➔ see also **WIRE-TAP** 3 a specially shaped object made to fit and close the opening in a barrel 4 **on tap** a) (of beer) from a barrel b) *infml* ready for use when needed; **AVAILABLE**: *We've got a lot of experts on tap to advise us.*
**tap2** *v* -pp- [T] 1 to use or take what is needed from: *We have enormous reserves of oil still waiting to be tapped.* 2 to listen secretly or illegally to (a person, telephone conversation etc) by making a connection to (the telephone, a telephone wire etc): *The secret agent suspects that his phone is being tapped.* 3 to open (a barrel) so as to draw off (liquid) 4 to get liquid from (the trunk of a tree) by making a hole in it: *to tap maple/rubber trees* 5 [(for)] *BrE infml* to get money from: *He tapped me for a fiver.*
**tap into** *sthg, phr v* [T] to **TAP2**: *to tap into our currency reserves/recent developments in technology*
**tap3** *v* -pp- [I;T (on)] 1 to hit (the hand, foot etc) lightly against something: *The teacher tapped her fingers on the desk impatiently.* | *She tapped her feet in time to the music.* | *He was tapping away on his typewriter until late into the night.* 2 to hit (something) lightly with a quick short blow, especially to attract attention: *I tapped (on) the window to let them know I'd arrived.* ➔ compare **KNOCK**
**tap4** *n* [(on)] a short light blow: *I heard a tap on the window.*
**tap·a** /'tɑːpə/ *n* [usually P] a small dish of food eaten as part of the first course of a meal in Spain or in Spanish **RESTAURANTS**. Tapas may be fish, vegetable, or meat dishes.
**'tap, dance** *n* a stage dance in which musical time is beaten on the floor by the feet of the dancer, who wears special shoes with pieces of metal on the bottom —**tap dancer** *n* —**tap dancing** *n* [U]
**tape1** /teɪp/ *n* 1 [C;U] (a long thin piece of) narrow material used for various purposes such as tying up parcels, marking out areas of ground etc: *to put insulating tape on electric wires* | **adhesive tape** 2 also **adhesive tape, sticky tape**, **Sellotape** *trademark* || **Scotch tape** *AmE trademark* — (a piece of) narrow material which is sticky on one or both sides, used to stick things, especially paper products, together ➔ see also **MASKING TAPE** 3 [C;U] a) (a length of) narrow plastic material covered with a special **MAGNETIC** substance on which sound can be recorded and played back on a **TAPE RECORDER** b) a **CASSETTE** c) a **VIDEOTAPE** 4 [C(oft)] also **tape re·cord·ing** /'...·ɪ/ a length of this on which a performance, piece of music, speech etc, has been recorded: *We listened to some tapes of her songs.* 5 [the S] a string stretched across the finishing line in a race and broken by the winner 6 [C] a **TAPE MEASURE** ➔ see also **RED TAPE, TICKERTAPE**
**tape2** *v* 1 [I;T] a) also '**tape-re,cord**, **record** to record (sound) on **TAPE** with a **TAPE RECORDER** b) to **VIDEOTAPE**: *We've taped the rock concert/the interview.* 2 [T(UP)] to fasten or tie (a parcel, packet etc) with **TAPE** 3 *AmE* to stick something onto something else using **TAPE** 4 [T(UP)] often *pass.* | *AmE* for **STRAP**: *The doctors have taped up his swollen ankle.* 5 *BrE* **have someone/something taped** *infml* to understand thoroughly or have learnt how to deal with someone/something: *The arrangements are complicated, but I've got it all taped.* | *You can't fool her – she's got you taped.*
**'tape deck** *n* the apparatus in a **TAPE RECORDER** that winds the **TAPE** and records and plays back sound, especially one that is connected to a separate system
**'tape, measure** *n* a long band of narrow cloth or bendable steel, marked with divisions of length, used for measuring ➔ compare **RULER**
**ta·per1** /'teɪpər/ *v* [I;T (OFF)] 1 to (cause to) become gradually narrower towards one end: *The animal's tail tapered off to a point.* | *She had long tapering fingers.* 2 to slow down or decrease gradually: *Interest in the scandal seems to be tapering off.*
**taper2** *n* 1 [C usually sing.] a gradual decrease in the width of a long object 2 a very thin candle 3 a length of string covered in **WAX**, used especially in former times for lighting candles, lamps etc
**'tape re,corder** *n* an electrical apparatus which can record sound on **TAPE** and play it back
**tap·es·try** /'tæpəstri/ *n* [C;U] (a usually large piece of) heavy cloth on which coloured threads are woven to produce a picture, pattern etc: *The walls of the banqueting hall were hung with tapestries.* | *(fig., pomp)* *Such strange events are all part of life's rich tapestry.* —**-tried** *adj*
**tape·worm** /'teɪpwɜːm||-wɜːrm/ *n* a long flat worm that when fully-grown lives in the bowels of human beings and other animals
**tap·i·o·ca** /ˌtæpi'əʊkə/ *n* [U] small hard white grains made from the crushed dried roots of **CASSAVA**, especially used for making sweet dishes
**ta·pir** /'teɪpər/ *n* *pl.* **tapir** or **tapirs** a piglike animal of tropical America and Southeast Asia, with thick legs, a short tail, and a long nose
**tap·pet** /'tæpɪt/ *n* a machine part that passes on movement, especially a part in an engine that passes on movement from a **CAM** to a **VALVE** or a part that turns an apparatus on and off at set times
**tap·root** /'tæpruːt/ *n* the main root of a plant, which grows straight down and produces smaller side roots
**taps** /tæps/ *n* [U] a song or a tune played on the **BUGLE** last thing at night in an army camp or **SUMMER CAMP**, or at military funerals or services. In the US, a particular tune is associated with taps, and the words:
*Day is done. Gone the sun,*
*from the lakes, to the hills, to the skies.*
*All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh.*
**tar1** /tɑːr/ *n* 1 [U] a black substance, thick and sticky when hot and hard when cold, used for making road surfaces, preserving wood etc ➔ see also **COAL TAR** 2 [C] becoming rare a **JACK TAR**
**tar2** *v* -rr- [T] 1 to cover with tar: *They're tarring the road.* 2 **tar and feather** to put tar on (someone) and then cover them with feathers as a punishment 3 **tarred with the same brush** having, or (often unfairly) believed to have, the same faults