A tap is a valve controlling release of liquids (faucet and spigot are more common as U.S. terms) or gas. In the British Isles and most of the Commonwealth, the word is used for any everyday type of valve, particularly the fittings that control water supply to bathtubs and sinks. In the U.S., the term "tap" is more often used for beer taps, cut-in connections, or wiretapping, with the word faucet or spigot being used more for water outlets