solapar

Definition & meaning

Solapar is a Spanish verb with two main meanings:

1. To overlap or partly cover: one thing lies over another, covering it wholly or in part.
   Las tejas se solapan. — “The tiles overlap.”

2. To conceal or cover up, especially to hide something deliberately.
   Intentó solapar el error. — “They tried to cover up the mistake.”

Its pronominal form, solaparse ↗, can mean to overlap or to coincide partly, including in time: Las reuniones se solapan means “The meetings overlap.”

Grammar & Word origin

Solapar is a regular transitive verb ending in -ar; its present-tense first-person form is solapo, and its past participle is solapado. It is often used pronominally as solaparse when things overlap or coincide.

The verb is related to solapa ?, meaning a flap or overlapping part of a garment. It is formed with the verb-ending -ar. The garment-related sense helps explain the meaning “to overlap”; the sense “to conceal” develops from the idea of covering something.

Synonyms & antonyms

The best synonym depends on the meaning:

• For overlap: superponer ? means to place one thing over another, while coincidir ? means to coincide or occur at the same time. Solapar emphasizes partial covering or overlap.
• For conceal: ocultar ? means to hide more generally; encubrir ? often suggests concealing or protecting wrongdoing; disimular ? means to disguise or make something less noticeable.

Possible antonyms include separar [?](vocabuo://separar] for keeping things apart, and revelar ? or descubrir ? for exposing what was concealed.

Common phrases & collocations

• solapar una teja con otra — to overlap one roof tile with another
• solaparse en el tiempo — to overlap in time
• solapar un error — to cover up a mistake
• solapar intereses — to conceal or disguise interests