1
2
3
: a string or ribbon stretched breast-high above the finish line of a race
4
: a narrow woven fabric
taped; taping; tapes
1
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape
2
: to record (something, such as sound or video) on magnetic tape
tape an interview
The show was taped before a live audience.
: to record something on magnetic tape
He was already taping when I walked into the studio.
broadly
: record sense intransitive
1
: recorded on tape
tape music
2
: intended for use with recording (such as magnetic) tape
a tape cartridge
Synonyms
Examples of tape in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Verb
She taped a note to the refrigerator.
I taped the box shut.
The show is taped before a live audience.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023
Arizona Coyotes player Travis Dermott defied the ban last month by placing rainbow tape on his hockey stick.
—Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner, 26 Nov. 2023
Behind its fancy screens, Hernández’s set is wide, shallow, and mostly bare, and Meryl’s epic tale is fashioned out of scrappy items from the acting class — folding chairs and gaffer tape.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2023
Making the announcement in a video posted to YouTube, Chan and Macchio launched a global casting search for a brand new karate kid to lead the movie, inviting young actors to submit audition tapes to KarateKidCasting.com.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023
Amid the post-war shortages, the New York contractor who made the targets also made toys, and had used plastic tape with pink and purple flowers as well as geometric designs from the latter line to seal the target seams.
—WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
The team verified this by test-flying various rectangular sheets of paper, changing the front weight by adding thin metallic tape to one edge.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Nov. 2023
Just wrap cookie cutters with narrow fabric ribbon (try red-and-white gingham for an extra-festive touch), and secure the ribbon ends with tape.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson book series, said that he and the Disney+ casting directors were blown away by Scobell's audition tapes.
—Emma Kershaw, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2023
An investigation revealed the secret White House taping system — which recorded Mr. Nixon’s rough treatment of Mr. Burns.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
The venue featured 20 courts (12 of which were taped onto existing Tennis courts), 393 players, and was tournament id number 13 in a brand new software package called Pickleball Tournaments.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
The site of the shooting, near a medical building on Wilshire, was taped off.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
The scene remains active with police having taped off the road leading to several homes.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2023
Producers say the production will be taped for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center before the end of its run.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Nov. 2023
Someone had taped hearts on the field’s fence featuring the names of the dead.
—Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
That special was taped on Feb. 8 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2023
Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023
Artisan guilds and filmmakers balked at the academy’s decision to pre-tape eight award categories, including original score and film editing, to limit the run time to three hours.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Ted DiBiase cut an amazing pre-tape promo before this match about the importance of the Million-Dollar Championship.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 18 May 2021
See More
Noun
The mother of two shared how the painter’s tape can be used in a variety of ways to help keep her children occupied, as well as functionally help make the trip more pleasant.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023
Arizona Coyotes player Travis Dermott defied the ban last month by placing rainbow tape on his hockey stick.
—Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner, 26 Nov. 2023
Behind its fancy screens, Hernández’s set is wide, shallow, and mostly bare, and Meryl’s epic tale is fashioned out of scrappy items from the acting class — folding chairs and gaffer tape.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2023
Making the announcement in a video posted to YouTube, Chan and Macchio launched a global casting search for a brand new karate kid to lead the movie, inviting young actors to submit audition tapes to KarateKidCasting.com.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023
Amid the post-war shortages, the New York contractor who made the targets also made toys, and had used plastic tape with pink and purple flowers as well as geometric designs from the latter line to seal the target seams.
—WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
The team verified this by test-flying various rectangular sheets of paper, changing the front weight by adding thin metallic tape to one edge.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Nov. 2023
Just wrap cookie cutters with narrow fabric ribbon (try red-and-white gingham for an extra-festive touch), and secure the ribbon ends with tape.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson book series, said that he and the Disney+ casting directors were blown away by Scobell's audition tapes.
—Emma Kershaw, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023
Verb
The boost in streams is mainly thanks to the viral Ceiling Challenge on TikTok, where users tape their phone to the ceiling, hit record, and then post a clip of that overhead shot.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2023
An investigation revealed the secret White House taping system — which recorded Mr. Nixon’s rough treatment of Mr. Burns.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
The venue featured 20 courts (12 of which were taped onto existing Tennis courts), 393 players, and was tournament id number 13 in a brand new software package called Pickleball Tournaments.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
The site of the shooting, near a medical building on Wilshire, was taped off.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
The scene remains active with police having taped off the road leading to several homes.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2023
Producers say the production will be taped for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center before the end of its run.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Nov. 2023
Someone had taped hearts on the field’s fence featuring the names of the dead.
—Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
That special was taped on Feb. 8 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2023
Adjective
This time, all 23 categories will be presented live at the event after last year's decision to pre-tape eight competitive categories sparked backlash from industry professionals.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023
Artisan guilds and filmmakers balked at the academy’s decision to pre-tape eight award categories, including original score and film editing, to limit the run time to three hours.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Ted DiBiase cut an amazing pre-tape promo before this match about the importance of the Million-Dollar Championship.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 18 May 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English tæppe
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Verb
1609, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Adjective
1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of tape was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing tape
Articles Related to tape
Dictionary Entries Near tape
Cite this Entry
“Tape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tape. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
tape
1 of 2 noun1
: a narrow band of woven fabric
2
: a string stretched breast-high above the finishing line of a race
3
: a narrow flexible strip or band
especially
: magnetic tape
4
: a recording made on magnetic tape
tape
2 of 2 verb
taped; taping
1
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape
2
: to measure with a tape measure
3
Medical Definition
tape
1 of 2 noun
: a narrow band of woven fabric
especially
: adhesive tape
tape
2 of 2 transitive verb
taped; taping
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape and especially adhesive tape
More from Merriam-Webster on tape
Nglish: Translation of tape for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of tape for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share