1
2
3
: a string or ribbon stretched breast-high above the finish line of a race
4
: a narrow woven fabric
taped; taping; tapes
1
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape
2
: to record (something, such as sound or video) on magnetic tape
tape an interview
The show was taped before a live audience.
: to record something on magnetic tape
He was already taping when I walked into the studio.
broadly
: record sense intransitive
1
: recorded on tape
tape music
2
: intended for use with recording (such as magnetic) tape
a tape cartridge
Synonyms
Examples of tape in a Sentence
Noun
His eyeglasses are held together with tape.
The show was recorded on tape.
I was listening to a tape in the car.
She stuck a tape in the VCR.
Verb
She taped a note to the refrigerator.
I taped the box shut.
The show is taped before a live audience.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Rifkin tried to exploit that during her closing argument, showing jurors Styrofoam heads with eyes and mouths covered in tape and with markings showing where a bullet entered and left the bodies.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
Sewn rim tape material at the top of the envelope was frayed and several panels were damaged.
—Sasha Hupka, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
In the mid-1950s, 3M advertised its Scotch audio reel-to-reel tape.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2024
Note the removed gray tape on the right side of the floor in the nearby image.
—PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
While his production dipped over the past two seasons — likely due to the turnstile of Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph at quarterback — Johnson’s ability as a route runner and his above-average speed showed up on tape.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2024
The first guy is, too, caught on tape with a bin of his own.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
As for whatever was captured on tape, who has a VCR anymore?
—Rick Rojas, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Jack Bantock, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Pictures of Beth’s two children are taped to the refrigerator, to kitchen cabinets.
—Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
He was seen in the locker room with ice packs taped around both knees — not an uncommon sight for NBA players in the thick of a grueling schedule.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
In response to detailed questions for this article, a Trump spokesman referred The Washington Post to a video Trump taped for the RNC that praised early voting.
—Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Wrap the roll with tissue paper, taping the two long ends together with double stick tape, and twist the ends.
—Kit Selzer, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024
The video on the phone is 46 seconds long, but Smith said the student was taped to the chair for two to five minutes.
—Fox 19 Digital Staff, The Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2024
Critics have long maintained that the networks are relatively powerless to push back against a dissembling, rambling Trump as the cameras roll — even if an interview is taped.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Mar. 2024
After sedating the 12-foot, 750-pound reptile, officers taped Albert's mouth and drove away with him in the back of a van.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023
Artisan guilds and filmmakers balked at the academy’s decision to pre-tape eight award categories, including original score and film editing, to limit the run time to three hours.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Ted DiBiase cut an amazing pre-tape promo before this match about the importance of the Million-Dollar Championship.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 18 May 2021
Noun
Sewn rim tape material at the top of the envelope was frayed and several of its panels were damaged.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Rifkin tried to exploit that during her closing argument, showing jurors Styrofoam heads with eyes and mouths covered in tape and with markings showing where a bullet entered and left the bodies.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
Sewn rim tape material at the top of the envelope was frayed and several panels were damaged.
—Sasha Hupka, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
In the mid-1950s, 3M advertised its Scotch audio reel-to-reel tape.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2024
Note the removed gray tape on the right side of the floor in the nearby image.
—PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
While his production dipped over the past two seasons — likely due to the turnstile of Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph at quarterback — Johnson’s ability as a route runner and his above-average speed showed up on tape.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2024
The first guy is, too, caught on tape with a bin of his own.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
As for whatever was captured on tape, who has a VCR anymore?
—Rick Rojas, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
After a return to the par-five 18th hole for the first playoff hole, Bhatia struck two shots before receiving treatment from physio Aki Tajima, who taped up the shoulder at the edge of the fairway.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Pictures of Beth’s two children are taped to the refrigerator, to kitchen cabinets.
—Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
He was seen in the locker room with ice packs taped around both knees — not an uncommon sight for NBA players in the thick of a grueling schedule.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
In response to detailed questions for this article, a Trump spokesman referred The Washington Post to a video Trump taped for the RNC that praised early voting.
—Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Wrap the roll with tissue paper, taping the two long ends together with double stick tape, and twist the ends.
—Kit Selzer, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024
The video on the phone is 46 seconds long, but Smith said the student was taped to the chair for two to five minutes.
—Fox 19 Digital Staff, The Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2024
Critics have long maintained that the networks are relatively powerless to push back against a dissembling, rambling Trump as the cameras roll — even if an interview is taped.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Mar. 2024
After sedating the 12-foot, 750-pound reptile, officers taped Albert's mouth and drove away with him in the back of a van.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Adjective
This time, all 23 categories will be presented live at the event after last year's decision to pre-tape eight competitive categories sparked backlash from industry professionals.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023
Artisan guilds and filmmakers balked at the academy’s decision to pre-tape eight award categories, including original score and film editing, to limit the run time to three hours.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Ted DiBiase cut an amazing pre-tape promo before this match about the importance of the Million-Dollar Championship.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 18 May 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to tape
Dictionary Entries Near tape
Cite this Entry
“Tape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tape. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tape
1 of 2 noun1
: a narrow band of woven fabric
2
: a string stretched breast-high above the finishing line of a race
3
: a narrow flexible strip or band
especially
: magnetic tape
4
: a recording made on magnetic tape
tape
2 of 2 verb
taped; taping
1
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape
2
: to measure with a tape measure
3
Medical Definition
tape
1 of 2 noun
: a narrow band of woven fabric
especially
: adhesive tape
tape
2 of 2 transitive verb
taped; taping
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape and especially adhesive tape
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