tape

1 of 3

noun

1
: a narrow flexible strip or band: such as
2
3
: a string or ribbon stretched breast-high above the finish line of a race
4
: a narrow woven fabric

tape

2 of 3

verb

taped; taping; tapes

transitive verb

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.
broadly : record sense transitive 3
taped the performance on her phone

intransitive verb

: to record something on magnetic tape
He was already taping when I walked into the studio.

tape

3 of 3

adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The really clunky moments come off like an audition tape in which the off-camera casting assistant running lines is late on their cues. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024 Methods to prevent such damage include leaving batteries in retail packaging, covering terminals with tape or using a protective pouch. Barry Collins, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
Form one strip into a circle, taping or gluing the ends together, then thread the next strip through the circle before securing the ends. Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2024 Also in his employment was a mobile engineer sent to local bars in New York and New Jersey to surreptitiously tape live shows of local cover bands, none of whom had any idea what was happening! Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024
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 See all Example Sentences for tape 

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

Dictionary Entries Near tape

Cite this Entry

“Tape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tape. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tape

1 of 2 noun
1
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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