tarp

noun

ˈtärp 

plural tarps

: a piece of material (such as durable plastic or waterproofed canvas) used especially for protecting exposed objects or areas : tarpaulin

The crewmen competed for a place to stand beneath the small tarp that covered part of the narrow deck.

—Matt Potts

This house, half of it's all burned up. They live there, the burned part's covered with a tarp, with their dogs, and they must have at least ten.

—Katya Reno

Examples of tarp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But a tarp was then placed over the entire edifice as if to hide it. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026

At the time of the fire, the cottages were uninhabited and covered by protective tarps. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

The station reported that the store was bought of out generators, tarps, and other emergency gear. — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026

All cabins come with a firepit equipped with a grill grate and a picnic table, while upgrading to an outdoor suite gets you a tarp for shade lined with string lights and an extremely comfortable hammock. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tarp

• carp
• harp
• scarp
• endocarp
• pericarp

Kids Definition

tarp

noun

ˈtärp 

: tarpaulin