harp

1 of 2

noun

ˈhärp How to pronounce harp (audio)
plural harps
1
: a plucked stringed instrument consisting of a resonator, an arched or angled neck that may be supported by a post, and strings of graded length that are strung between the soundboard and the neck
2
: something resembling a harp
3
: harmonica sense 2
harpist
ˈhär-pist How to pronounce harp (audio)
noun

Illustration of harp

Illustration of harp
  • harp 1

harp

2 of 2

verb

harped; harping; harps

intransitive verb

1
: to play on a harp
2
: to dwell on or recur to a subject tiresomely or monotonously
—usually used with on

Synonyms

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of harp in a Sentence

Verb there were so many good things about the stage production that it seems churlish to harp on a couple of minor missteps
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Romany occasionally picked up a portable harp, complementing Hattie Webb’s larger one; this surely was the only rock show in L.A. Friday night to boast any twin-harp-attack moments. —Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Oct. 2024 Even by the standards of a nation whose official emblem is a harp, Donegal has an exceptionally rich musical tradition. —Saki Knafo, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2024
Verb
As for any naysayers and critics still harping about manhole covers and temporary traffic disruptions, Formula 1 should just take a page from the Swiftie playbook and shake it off. —Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2023 DeSantis has slipped to third place in some individual polls, a development that Trump and his allies have harped upon. —David Jackson, USA TODAY, 21 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for harp 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English harpe, going back to Old English hearpe (feminine weak noun), going back to Germanic *harpōn- (whence also Old Saxon harpa "harp, rack, gridiron for torture" Old High German harpha, harfa "harp, gridiron for torture," Old Norse harpa "harp"), of uncertain origin

Note: As a source for Middle English harpe compare also Anglo-French and continental Old French harpe, borrowed from Germanic. The sixth-century poet and hymnodist Venantius Fortunatus, resident at the Merovingian court, attests the word in Latin: "Romanusque lyra plaudat tibi, barbarus harpa …" ("Let the Roman applaud you with the lyre, the barbarian with the harp …").

Verb

Middle English harpen "to play a harp, pluck" (also harpen on "repeat [something] constantly"), going back to Old English hearpian "to play the harp," derivative of hearpe harp entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of harp was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing harp

Dictionary Entries Near harp

haroseth

harp

Harpa

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Harp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harp. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

harp

1 of 2 noun
ˈhärp How to pronounce harp (audio)
: a musical instrument that has strings stretched across a large open triangular frame and that is plucked with the fingers
harpist
ˈhär-pəst How to pronounce harp (audio)
noun

harp

2 of 2 verb
1
: to play on a harp
2
: to dwell on a subject tiresomely
always harping on his shortcomings
harper noun

More from Merriam-Webster on harp

Nglish: Translation of harp for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of harp for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about harp

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