1. [n]  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
2. [n]  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
3. [n]  a pair of curved vertical supports for a lampshade
4. [v]  come back to; "Don't dwell on the past"
5. [v]  play the harp

1. \Harp\, n. [OE. harpe, AS. hearpe; akin to D. harp, G.
   harfe, OHG. harpha, Dan. harpe, Icel. & Sw. harpa.]
   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.]
   {[AE]olian harp}. See under {[AE]olian}.
   {Harp seal} (Zo["o]l.), an arctic seal ({Phoca
      Gr[oe]nlandica}). The adult males have a light-colored
      body, with a harp-shaped mark of black on each side, and
      the face and throat black. Called also {saddler}, and
      {saddleback}. The immature ones are called {bluesides}.
   {Harp shell} (Zo["o]l.), a beautiful marine gastropod shell
      of the genus {Harpa}, of several species, found in
      tropical seas. See {Harpa}.
   

2. \Harp\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Harped}p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Harping}.] [AS. hearpian. See {Harp}, n.]
   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.
   {To harp on one string}, to dwell upon one subject with
      disagreeable or wearisome persistence. [Collog.]
   

3. \Harp\, v. t.
   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.
   

(Heb. kinnor), the national instrument of the Hebrews. It was invented by Jubal (Gen. 4:21). Some think the word _kinnor_ denotes the whole class of stringed instruments. It was used as an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulness as well as of praise to God (Gen. 31:27; 1 Sam. 16:23; 2 Chr. 20:28; Ps. 33:2; 137:2).

In Solomon's time harps were made of almug-trees (1 Kings 10:11, 12). In 1 Chr. 15:21 mention is made of "harps on the Sheminith;" Revised Version, "harps set to the Sheminith;" better perhaps "harps of eight strings." The soothing effect of the music of the harp is referred to 1 Sam. 16:16, 23; 18:10; 19:9. The church in heaven is represented as celebrating the triumphs of the Redeemer "harping with their harps" (Rev. 14:2).