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

Once ideal weather arrives, lay the tarp over the weeds, making sure there are no gaps or tears, says Dilmore. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026

Nick Pappas, the NFL's field director, told The Associated Press from Rio de Janeiro that the league shipped a tarp there to help protect the turf. — ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026

But a tarp was then placed over the entire edifice as if to hide it. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026

At the time of the fire, the cottages were uninhabited and covered by protective tarps. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 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