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

Inspectors reported seeing rodent droppings, cracked tiles in a shower, a tarp on the roof, a crack in the ceiling, debris and furniture dumped outside. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

That area of the center's front portico has been covered by a tarp since then, though, concealing most of its name. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

More than 70 volunteers handed out tarps, bottled water, flashlights, toys and more at Haven Hollow Park in Portage Township on Wednesday. — Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Since then, a tarp has covered the area where the letters were once installed, frustrating those who sought to the remove the president's name from the building. — ABC News, 19 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