tapa

1 of 2

noun (1)

ta·​pa ˈtä-pə  ˈta- 

: a coarse cloth made in the Pacific islands from the pounded bark especially of the paper mulberry and usually decorated with geometric patterns

tapa

2 of 2

noun (2)

: an hors d'oeuvre served with drinks especially in Spanish bars

—usually used in plural

Examples of tapa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The rustic interior has plenty of simple, rough-hewn wooden furniture, which allows beautiful plates of pintxos and tapas to shine brightly. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026

Other, more casual options include Bar Oso, a tapas restaurant with creative twists on traditional Spanish dishes, and Lorette Brasserie, a French bistro with an incredible brunch. — Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026

Enjoy tapas like mini cornetos de atun, crispy cones of tuna tartare and orange escabeche; or ensalada de patata, a Dungeness crab and potato salad with trout roe, piquillo peppers and olives for an elevated surf and turf lunch or dinner for dad. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 9 June 2026

One evening, explored some of the city's best tapas bars with a respected food journalist. — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Marquesan & Tahitian

Noun (2)

Spanish, literally, cover, lid, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old English tæppa tap

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1817, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1939, in the meaning defined above