wiretapping
|wire-tap-ping|
🇺🇸
/ˈwaɪərˌtæpɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈwaɪəˌtæpɪŋ/
(wiretap)
secretly intercepting communications
Etymology
'wiretap' originates from the combination of 'wire' and 'tap', where 'wire' refers to the telephone line and 'tap' means to intercept or listen in.
'wiretap' evolved from the practice of physically tapping into telephone wires to intercept communications.
Initially, it meant 'to physically connect to a wire to listen in', but now it broadly includes any form of electronic eavesdropping.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of secretly listening to or recording someone's telephone conversations.
The police obtained a warrant for wiretapping the suspect's phone.
Synonyms
Verb 1
present participle of 'wiretap'.
They were wiretapping the office to gather evidence.
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45