harp Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun 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
  2. noun a pair of curved vertical supports for a lampshade
  3. noun 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
    mouth organ; mouth harp; harmonica.
  4. verb come back to
    dwell.
    • Don't dwell on the past
    • She is always harping on the same old things
  5. verb play the harp
    • She harped the Saint-Saens beautifully

WordNet

Harp noun
Etymology
OE. harpe, AS. hearpe; akin to D. harp, G.harfe, OHG. harpha, Dan. harpe, Icel. & Sw. harpa.
Definitions
  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.
Harp intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. hearpian. See Harp, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Harped present participle & verbal noun Harping
Definitions
  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.
Harp transitive verb
Definitions
  1. 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.

Webster 1913