tape
tayp
Tape (noun) means a long, narrow strip of material with a sticky side, used for sealing, fastening or mending things. Example: “She sealed the parcel with brown tape.”
noun
1
A long, narrow strip of material with a sticky side, used for sealing, fastening or mending things.
"She sealed the parcel with brown tape."
"I ran out of tape halfway through wrapping the presents."
"A piece of clear tape held the torn page together."
2
A narrow strip of magnetic material for recording sound, pictures or data, or a cassette or reel holding it.
"The whole interview is on tape."
"My dad still has old family videos stored on tape in the attic."
"The band recorded their first song on a cassette tape."
3
A strip of material stretched across a place to mark a finishing line or to keep people out.
"Police tape kept the crowd back from the scene."
"The runner raised her arms as she broke the tape at the finish."
"Yellow tape stretched across the pavement to keep walkers away from the hole."
verb
1
To fasten, seal, or attach something using adhesive tape.
"She taped the poster to her bedroom wall."
"Please tape the box shut before the courier arrives."
"He taped a note to the front door for the delivery driver."
2
To record sound or video, whether or not the recording is actually made on physical tape.
"They taped the interview for later broadcast."
"I'll tape the football match and watch it when I get home."
"The students taped their presentation on a phone to review it later."
How to use tape
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stick something with adhesive tape, or to make a recording.
Common pairings
tape a conversation
tape something down
duct tape
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- tapes
- Past tense
- taped
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She sealed the parcel with brown _____.
Etymology
From Old English tæppa/tæppe, meaning "ribbon" or "strip of material"; the exact origin before that is unclear.
Related words
Rhymes for tape
See all rhymes for tape →Frequently asked questions
What does “tape” mean?
The word “tape” means to fasten, seal, or attach something using adhesive tape. In plain terms, to stick something with adhesive tape, or to make a recording.
How do you pronounce “tape”?
“Tape” is pronounced tayp (/teɪ̯p/ in IPA).
How do you use “tape” in a sentence?
Here is “tape” used in a sentence: “She taped the poster to her bedroom wall.”
What part of speech is “tape”?
“Tape” is a verb.
Where does the word “tape” come from?
The word “tape” comes from Old English. From Old English tæppa/tæppe, meaning "ribbon" or "strip of material"; the exact origin before that is unclear.
Is “tape” a common word?
“Tape” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “tape” have?
“Tape” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fasten, seal, or attach something using adhesive tape.
What does it mean to tape something?
In this sense, to tape something is to fasten, seal, or attach it using adhesive tape. You might tape a parcel shut, tape a poster to a wall, or tape two sheets of paper together. The focus is on the sticky tape doing the joining, rather than glue, staples, or pins.
Does 'tape' also mean to record something?
Yes — that is a separate meaning. To tape can mean to record sound or video, a sense left over from the magnetic tape used in cassettes and video tapes. The meaning here, though, is purely physical: fastening or sealing something with adhesive tape. Context normally makes clear which sense is intended.
What is an example of taping something?
Sealing a cardboard box with parcel tape before posting it is a common example. So is taping a bandage over a cut, taping a note to a door, or taping down a loose cable so no one trips. In each case, adhesive tape holds something in place or shut.
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