magnetic tape

noun

: a thin ribbon (as of plastic) coated with a magnetic material on which information (such as sound or television images) may be stored

Examples of magnetic tape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But deep archives in the cloud are generally more expensive over the long term and will likely be on magnetic tape as well. Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 This layer generally requires even lower costs for storage than the secondary storage layer and this is the realm where magnetic tape and optical disc storage have their greatest use. Thomas Coughlin, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 Also, magnetic tape is manufactured in Japan as are many of the optical discs. Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Instead of punch cards, the computer used magnetic tape to input data. IEEE Spectrum, 13 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for magnetic tape

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnetic tape was in 1937

Cite this Entry

“Magnetic tape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnetic%20tape. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

magnetic tape

noun
: a thin ribbon (as of plastic) coated with a magnetic material on which information (as sound or television images) may be stored

More from Merriam-Webster on magnetic tape

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!