1. the action of striking something lightly and repeatedly
2. the process of extracting liquid from a container or source
3. the act of secretly listening to phone conversations

1. present participle of tap: striking lightly and repeatedly
2. present participle of tap: extracting liquid from a source

Examples

• The constant tapping on the window kept me awake.
• She heard a gentle tapping at the door.
• The tapping of maple trees begins in early spring.
• He was tapping his fingers nervously on the desk.
• The company was accused of illegal phone tapping.
• They are tapping the oil reserves in the region.
• The tapping sound came from the radiator pipes.