Definitions for: Harp


[n] 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
[n] 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
[n] a pair of curved vertical supports for a lampshade
[v] come back to; "Don't dwell on the past"
[v] play the harp



Webster (1913) Definition: Harp, n. [OE. harpe, AS. hearpe; akin to D. harp, G.
harfe, OHG. harpha, Dan. harpe, Icel. & Sw. harpa.]
1. A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame
furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held
upright, and played with the fingers.

2. (Astron.) A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.

3. A grain sieve. [Scot.]

[AE]olian harp. See under [AE]olian.

Harp seal (Zo["o]l.), an arctic seal ({Phoca
Gr[oe]nlandica}). The adult males have a light-colored
body, with a harp-shaped mark of black on each side, and
the face and throat black. Called also saddler, and
saddleback. The immature ones are called bluesides.



Harp shell (Zo["o]l.), a beautiful marine gastropod shell
of the genus Harpa, of several species, found in
tropical seas. See Harpa.


Harp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Harpedp. pr. & vb. n.
Harping.] [AS. hearpian. See Harp, n.]
1. To play on the harp.

I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their
harps. --Rev. xiv. 2.

2. To dwell on or recur to a subject tediously or
monotonously in speaking or in writing; to refer to
something repeatedly or continually; -- usually with on or
upon. ``Harpings upon old themes.'' --W. Irving.

Harping on what I am, Not what he knew I was.
--Shak.

To harp on one string, to dwell upon one subject with
disagreeable or wearisome persistence. [Collog.]


Harp, v. t.
To play on, as a harp; to play (a tune) on the harp; to
develop or give expression to by skill and art; to sound
forth as from a harp; to hit upon.

Thou 'harped my fear aright. --Shak.

Synonyms: dwell, harmonica, mouth harp, mouth organ

See Also: aeolian harp, aeolian lyre, chordophone, free-reed instrument, ingeminate, iterate, lyre, pick off, play, pluck, pull off, reiterate, repeat, restate, retell, support, tweak, wind harp

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