lapse

lapse¹ [læps] n

[Date: 1300-1400; : Latin; Origin: lapsus, from labi 'to slip']

1.) a short period of time during which you fail to do something well or properly, often caused by not being careful

momentary/temporary/occasional etc lapse

▪ Despite the occasional lapse, this was a fine performance by the young saxophonist.

▪ A defensive lapse by Keown allowed Tottenham to score.

lapse in

▪ lapses in security

lapse of

▪ A single lapse of concentration cost Sampras the game.

▪ a lapse of judgement

▪ After taking the drug, several patients suffered memory lapses (=when you cannot remember something for a short time) .

2.) a failure to do something you should do, especially to behave correctly

▪ He forgot to offer Darren a drink, but Marie did not appear to notice the lapse.

3.) [usually singular]

a period of time between two events

▪ The usual time lapse between request and delivery is two days.

lapse of

▪ a lapse of about ten seconds

lapse ²

lapse² v

1.) to gradually come to an end or to stop for a period of time

▪ The conversation lapsed.

2.) if a contract, agreement etc lapses, it comes to an end, usually because an agreed time limit has passed

▪ Your booking will automatically lapse unless you confirm it.

3.) to stop believing in or following a religion

▪ those people who have lapsed from the practice of their religion

4.) [i]formal if a period of time lapses, it passes

▪ Many years had lapsed since her first visit to Wexford.

lapse into [lapse into sth] phr v

1.) lapse into unconsciousness/silence/sleep etc

to go into a quiet or less active state

▪ He lapsed into a coma and died two days later.

▪ Alison lapsed into puzzled silence.

2.) to begin to behave or speak in a way that you did before

▪ She lapsed back into her old ways.

▪ Occasionally he lapsed into his native German.

3.) to get into a worse state or become worse

▪ Following his death, the Empire lapsed into chaos.

▪ His poetry often lapses into sentimentality.