Added 9 October 2026
tape
/teɪ̯p/ noun
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about tape at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides; adhesive tape.
Hand me some tape. I need to fix a tear in this paper.
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Thin and flat paper, plastic or similar flexible material, usually produced in the form of a roll.
We made some decorative flowers out of the tape we bought.
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Finishing tape, stretched across a track to mark the end of a race.
Jones broke the tape in 47.77 seconds, a new world record.
verb
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To bind with adhesive tape.
Be sure to tape your parcel securely before posting it.
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To record, originally onto magnetic tape.
You shouldn’t have said that. The microphone was on and we were taping.
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To understand, figure out.
I've finally got this thing taped.
Origin
From Middle English tape, tappe, from Old English tæppa, tæppe (“ribbon, tape”); further origin unclear. Probably akin to Old Frisian tapia (“to pull, rip, tear”), Middle Low German tappen, tāpen (“to grab, pull, rip, tear, snatch”), Middle High German zāfen, zāven (“to pull, tear”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)