a chordophone that has a triangular frame consisting of a sounding board and a pillar and a curved neck; the strings stretched between the neck and the soundbox are plucked with the fingers
"The musician gently plucked the harp's strings to create a soft, melodic tune."
a pair of curved vertical supports for a lampshade
"The old brass harps held the tattered fabric lampshade firmly above the dining table."
a small rectangular free-reed instrument having a row of free reeds set back in air holes and played by blowing into the desired hole
"The performer demonstrated how to play the harmonica by blowing into the top hole while pressing down on the corresponding side button."
A musical instrument consisting of a body and a curved neck, strung with strings of varying length that are stroked or plucked with the fingers and are vertical to the soundboard when viewed from the end of the body
"The musician sat before the harp, gently stroking its long strings as they vibrated against the wooden soundboard."
In plain English: A harp is a musical instrument with many strings that you pluck to make music.
"He decided to stop harping on his old mistakes and move forward."
Usage: The verb form "to harp on" is often used informally to describe tedious repetition, whereas the noun refers strictly to the instrument. Avoid using "harp" as a synonym for any stringed instrument that lacks its characteristic curved neck and plucked strings.
To repeatedly mention a subject.
"She kept harping on the small mistake he made years ago during every team meeting."
In plain English: To play music on a harp by plucking its strings with your fingers.
"She kept harping on his mistake during every meeting."
An occupational surname, from occupations for a player of the harp.
"The local history book lists several prominent families bearing the occupational surname Harp, tracing their lineage to medieval players of the stringed instrument."
The word "harp" comes from Old English hearpe, which is related to similar forms in other West Germanic languages. Its original meaning was simply the musical instrument known today as a harp.