Lapse has 11 different meanings across 2 categories:
Noun
· Verb
Noun
1
a mistake resulting from inattention
"He made a careless lapse by forgetting to lock the front door while he was distracted on his phone."
2
a break or intermission in the occurrence of something
"a lapse of three weeks between letters"
3
a failure to maintain a higher state
"After years of perfect attendance, he suffered a lapse when he missed work on Friday due to illness."
4
A temporary failure; a slip.
"After months of perfect attendance, she experienced a brief lapse when she forgot to clock in on Friday morning."
Verb
1
pass into a specified state or condition
"He sank into nirvana"
2
end, at least for a long time
"The correspondence lapsed"
3
drop to a lower level, as in one's morals or standards
"After years of dedication, his reputation began to suffer when he allowed his ethical standards to lapse under pressure."
4
go back to bad behavior
"Those who recidivate are often minor criminals"
5
let slip
"He lapsed his membership"
6
pass by
"three years elapsed"
7
To fall away gradually; to subside.
"After weeks of heavy rain, the floodwaters began to lapse back into the riverbed as the storm finally broke."
Example Sentences
"a lapse of three weeks between letters"
noun
"He sank into nirvana"
verb
"The correspondence lapsed"
verb
"Those who recidivate are often minor criminals"
verb
"He lapsed his membership"
verb
"three years elapsed"
verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)