tape

noun \ ˈtāp \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: tape in a Sentence

Definition of tape

1 : a narrow flexible strip or band: such as

a : adhesive tape

b : magnetic tape; also : cassette 2b

2 : tape recording

3 : a string or ribbon stretched breast-high above the finish line of a race

4 : a narrow woven fabric

See tape defined for English-language learners

See tape defined for kids

Examples of tape in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of tape from the Web

As inventory sells out, portions of stores and empty aisles are being closed off with yellow caution tape and other barriers and merchandise is being moved to the front.

— kelly tyko, USA TODAY, "How low will prices go? Toys R Us stores enter final days with new liquidation markdowns," 12 June 2018
Part of the block was cordoned off with police tape Friday morning, and there were blood stains and teeth on the street and sidewalk outside.

— baltimoresun.com, "Woman shot on Light Street in downtown Baltimore early Friday morning," 8 June 2018
Davidson was never charged with criminal wrongdoing in connection with the Hogan tape.

— NBC News, "Stormy Daniels' former lawyer countersues, alleging defamation," 8 June 2018
Yellow police tape surrounded the one-way block of Michigan Avenue, where a dark SUV was parked north of the stoplight at 37th Street, with its lights on and drivers door open.

— deanese williams-harris, chicagotribune.com, "5 wounded in South Side shootings," 7 June 2018
But in an inexplicable design flaw, the Medtronic sensor’s transmitter has to be separately fastened to the skin with not one but two pieces of itchy, irritating tape.

— david lazarus, latimes.com, "Cutting-edge tech makes diabetes management easier (and less painful) than ever," 7 June 2018
The park was blocked off by yellow tape as detectives with flashlights searched for clues late Monday night.

— david harris, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Two hurt in drive-by shooting at Winter Garden park," 5 June 2018
The yellow police tape that stretched across the driveway had been pulled down and a horde of police cars and media trucks had since scattered.

— azcentral, "Dwight Jones used legally owned gun despite previous domestic violence conviction," 5 June 2018
SUBSCRIBE TODAY Court records said Rist and Bowen broke into the house, bound the woman's hands and mouth with tape and took various items, including a shotgun.

— kaitlyn schwers, kansascity, "She refused to give them combination to a safe so they set her on fire, records say," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tape.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tape

Middle English, from Old English tæppe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

tape

verb

Definition of tape

taped; taping

transitive verb

1 : to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape

2 : to record on tape and especially magnetic tape

tape an interview

intransitive verb

: to record something on tape and especially magnetic tape

See tape defined for English-language learners

Examples of tape in a Sentence

She taped a note to the refrigerator.
I taped the box shut.
The show is taped before a live audience.

Recent Examples of tape from the Web

Lartey, his colleague Reginald Young Jr., a senior records management analyst, and other staffers in the records department would have to take pieces of paper of all different sizes sent from the White House and painstakingly tape them together.

— veronica stracqualursi, CNN, "Ex-WH aides describe 'adult puzzle' of taping up Trump's torn-up documents," 12 June 2018
When Kimberly Elkins needed relief from chronic pain, her fiancé, Aaron Rost, would tape a fentanyl patch to her chest or upper arm.

— rosa goldensohn, Anchorage Daily News, "They shared drugs. Someone died. Who is responsible?," 25 May 2018
On filming day, Harris had a prior engagement and had to tape her scenes without an audience.

— marc freeman, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Seinfeld' Finale at 20: Hidden Tales From the Vault of a Comedian's Bizarro World," 13 May 2018
The training staff in the locker room who tape the players together, literally.

— erik brady, USA TODAY, "Eddie Olczyk goes from cancer to busiest man in showbiz," 3 May 2018
Initially, Scott had no plans to allow camera crews to tape his vows.

— candace braun davison, House Beautiful, "Property Brother Drew Scott On The Moment He Knew Linda Phan Was The One," 2 May 2018
Just squeeze a few different colors of washable paint into plastic sealable bags. Seal them up, tape them to the windows and let the kids squish the colors together right through the plastic.

— amy schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A preschool teacher shares 7 great ideas to keep the kids busy during Thanksgiving prep," 15 Nov. 2017
At 3, Bee will tape a special before this same audience at Daughters of the Revolution Constitution Hall.

— timothy j. burger, Town & Country, "What's the Point of the White House Correspondents' Dinner if the President Doesn't Show Up?," 31 Mar. 2017
The woman who works there can tape a sleeve in a matter of seconds.

— heather hansman, Outside Online, "How Arc'teryx Builds the World's Priciest Jackets," 25 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of tape

1609

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

tape

adjective

Definition of tape

1 : recorded on tape

tape music

2 : intended for use with recording (such as magnetic) tape

a tape cartridge

First Known Use of tape

1947

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

TAPE Defined for English Language Learners

tape

noun

Definition of tape for English Language Learners

: a long, narrow piece of material that is sticky on one side and that is used to stick things together or to cover or repair something
: a thin piece of plastic that is coated with magnetic material on which information (such as sound or television images) may be stored
: something recorded on tape

tape

verb

Definition of tape for English Language Learners

: to attach (something) using sticky tape
: to fasten, tie, or cover (something) with tape
: to record (something) on magnetic tape

TAPE Defined for Kids

tape

noun \ ˈtāp \

Definition of tape for Students

1 : a narrow strip of material that is sticky on one side and is used to stick one thing to another

2 : magnetic tape

3 : ¹videotape 2

4 : tape recording

5 : a narrow band of cloth or plastic

He broke the tape and won the race.

tape

verb

Definition of tape for Students

taped; taping

1 : to fasten, cover, or hold up with sticky tape

2 : to make a recording of

She taped their conversation.

Medical Dictionary

tape

noun \ ˈtāp \

medical Definition of tape

: a narrow band of woven fabric; especially : adhesive tape

tape

transitive verb

medical Definition of tape

taped; taping

: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape and especially adhesive tape

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See words that rhyme with tape Spanish Central: Translation of tape Nglish: Translation of tape for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tape for Arabic speakers

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Definition of tape

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Origin and Etymology of tape

tape

Definition of tape

Examples of tape in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tape from the Web

First Known Use of tape

tape

Definition of tape

First Known Use of tape

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TAPE Defined for English Language Learners

tape

Definition of tape for English Language Learners

tape

Definition of tape for English Language Learners

TAPE Defined for Kids

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Definition of tape for Students

tape

Definition of tape for Students

Medical Dictionary

tape

medical Definition of tape

tape

medical Definition of tape

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