tape
noun
\
Definition of tape
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : a narrow flexible strip or band: such as
a : adhesive tape
b : magnetic tape also : cassette sense 2b
2 : tape recording
3 : a string or ribbon stretched breast-high above the finish line of a race
4 : a narrow woven fabric
tape
verbDefinition of tape (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape
2 : to record on tape and especially magnetic tape tape an interview
: to record something on tape and especially magnetic tape
tape
adjectiveDefinition of tape (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : recorded on tape tape music
2 : intended for use with recording (such as magnetic) tape a tape cartridge
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.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
There are ribbon tapes for an old Olivetti and correcting ribbons for an IBM Selectric III. — Thomas Farragher, BostonGlobe.com, "The End. Vermont typewriter shop’s closing marks the unrelenting scroll of time," 6 July 2018 There are tapes with one or two outtakes of things that have never been heard, but this is an entire album. — Natalie Weiner, Billboard, "Ravi Coltrane On the State of Jazz & Why John Coltrane's Lost Album Couldn't Have Been Found at a Better Time," 29 June 2018 With her Walkman cassette player and a Boston tape, Calico was heading out from her family’s house in Rio Communities, New Mexico, on her regular bicycle ride of roughly 35 miles. — Adam Carlson, PEOPLE.com, "New Leads in Teen's Cold-Case Disappearance While Biking: Why Answers May Be Hiding in Her Community," 22 June 2018 Since 2000 global investors wanting exposure to Indian shares but not Indian red tape and tax have gone via SGX. — The Economist, "Two Asian stock exchanges tussle over market data," 7 June 2018 The sheriff’s office had reviewed surveillance tapes and watched as Peterson stood against the wall. — Eli Saslow, kansascity, "Stoneman Douglas resource officer, called ‘coward’ and ‘blight,’ haunted by massacre," 4 June 2018 The sheriff's office had reviewed surveillance tapes and watched as Peterson stood against the wall. — The Washington Post, OregonLive.com, "'It was my job, and I didn't find him': Stoneman Douglas resource officer remains haunted by massacre," 4 June 2018 The earliest observation came from a VHS tape made in 1999; a family had filmed hammerhead flatworms and held on to the video for nearly two decades because the creatures were just so strange. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Hammerhead Flatworms Have Been Quietly Invading France for Two Decades," 26 May 2018 Dame made some changes, and it was recorded and released as a freestyle with The Lox on a DJ Clue tape. — Alex Wong, GQ, "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot," 11 May 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Politico first reported the efforts made by record-keeping officials in the Trump administration to tape back together papers Trump destroyed. — Sarah Westwood, CNN, "Ex-WH aide says he was tasked with taping together Trump's torn-up papers," 11 June 2018 The event will tape Saturday, July 14, at the Hollywood Palladium in Southern California. — Hal Boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Cybill Shepherd to roast Bruce Willis," 28 June 2018 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. 2017These 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.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
The Good, The Bad, & The...
The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018
The words that defined the week of August 17th, 2018
Dictionary Entries near tape
Statistics for tape
Last Updated
22 Sep 2018
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for tape
The first known use of tape was before the 12th century
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More Definitions for tape
tape
noun
English Language Learners Definition of tape
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of tape (Entry 2 of 2)
: to attach (something) using sticky tape
: to fasten, tie, or cover (something) with tape
: to record (something) on magnetic tape
See the full definition for tape in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tape
noun
\
Kids Definition of tape
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a narrow strip of material that is sticky on one side and is used to stick one thing to another
2 : magnetic tape
4 : tape recording
5 : a narrow band of cloth or plastic He broke the tape and won the race.
tape
verbKids Definition of tape (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to fasten, cover, or hold up with sticky tape
2 : to make a recording of She taped their conversation.
tape
noun
\
Medical Definition of tape
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a narrow band of woven fabric especially : adhesive tape
tape
transitive verbMedical Definition of tape (Entry 2 of 2)
: to fasten, tie, bind, cover, or support with tape and especially adhesive tape
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