læps n. & v. --n. 1 a
slight error; a slip of
memory etc. 2 a
weak or
careless decline into an
inferior state. 3 (foll. by of) an
interval or passage of
time (after a lapse of
three years). 4
Law the termination of a
right or
privilege through disuse or
failure to
follow appropriate procedures. --v.intr. 1
fail to
maintain a
position or
standard. 2 (foll. by into)
fall back into an inferior or
previous state. 3 (of a right or privilege etc.)
become invalid
because it is
not used or claimed or renewed. 4 (as lapsed adj.) (of a
person or thing)
that has lapsed. ølapse rate Meteorol. the rate at
which the
temperature falls
with increasing
altitude. øølapser n. [L lapsus f. labi lapsglide, slip, fall]