DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
sapping
崖底侵蝕; 基蝕
Sap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sapped p. pr. & vb. n. Sapping.]
1. To subvert by digging or wearing away; to mine; to undermine; to destroy the foundation of.
Nor safe their dwellings were, for sapped by floods,
Their houses fell upon their household gods. --Dryden.
2. Mil. To pierce with saps.
3. To make unstable or infirm; to unsettle; to weaken.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind. --Tennyson.
sap
n 1: a watery solution of sugars, salts, and minerals that
circulates through the vascular system of a plant
2: a person who lacks good judgment [syn: fool, saphead, muggins,
tomfool]
3: a piece of metal covered by leather with a flexible handle;
used for hitting people [syn: blackjack, cosh]
v 1: deplete; "exhaust one's savings"; "We quickly played out our
strength" [syn: run down, exhaust, play out, tire]
2: excavate the earth beneath
[also: sapping, sapped]