tarp

noun

ˈtärp 

plural tarps

: a piece of material (such as durable plastic or waterproofed canvas) used especially for protecting exposed objects or areas : tarpaulin

The crewmen competed for a place to stand beneath the small tarp that covered part of the narrow deck.

—Matt Potts

This house, half of it's all burned up. They live there, the burned part's covered with a tarp, with their dogs, and they must have at least ten.

—Katya Reno

Examples of tarp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All cabins come with a firepit equipped with a grill grate and a picnic table, while upgrading to an outdoor suite gets you a tarp for shade lined with string lights and an extremely comfortable hammock. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Scaffolding and a tarp continue to shroud the front of the building where the name was removed, which government lawyers say is necessary for the renovation work. — Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

The structure was wrapped in a shiny black tarp, like the Kaaba reimagined by Christo, and passersby began to stop and stare. — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

Since then, the front portico of the building has been covered by a construction tarp, concealing most of its name. — Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tarp

• carp
• harp
• scarp
• endocarp
• pericarp

Kids Definition

tarp

noun

ˈtärp 

: tarpaulin