TAPE


Meaning of TAPE in English

I. tape 1 S3 W3 AC /teɪp/ BrE AmE noun

[ Language: Old English ; Origin: tæppe ]

1 . FOR RECORDING

a) [uncountable] narrow plastic material covered with a special ↑ magnetic substance, on which you can record sounds, pictures, or computer information

on tape (=recorded on tape)

We’ve got the film on tape.

I hate hearing my voice on tape.

b) [countable] a special plastic box containing a length of tape that you can record sound on SYN cassette :

I’ll listen to the tape tomorrow.

William lent me some of his Beatles tapes.

tape of

We played a tape of African music and began dancing.

Bring me a blank tape and I’ll record it for you.

c) [countable] a special plastic box containing a length of tape that you can record sound and pictures on SYN videotape

2 . STICKY MATERIAL [uncountable] a narrow length of plastic that is sticky on one side and is used to stick things together SYN Sellotape British English , Scotch tape American English :

a photo stuck to the wall with tape

3 . THIN PIECE OF MATERIAL [uncountable and countable] a long thin piece of plastic or cloth used for purposes such as marking out an area of ground or tying things together:

Crime-scene tape marked out the position of the murdered man.

4 . the tape a string stretched out across the finishing line in a race and broken by the winner

5 . FOR MEASURING [countable] a ↑ tape measure

⇨ ↑ red tape

II. tape 2 AC BrE AmE verb

1 . RECORD SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] ( also tape record ) to record sound or pictures onto a tape:

Would you mind if I taped this conversation?

Quiet – the machine’s still taping.

2 . STICK SOMETHING [transitive] to stick something onto something else using tape

tape something to something

There were two pictures taped to the side of the fridge.

3 . FASTEN SOMETHING [transitive] ( also tape up ) to fasten a package, box etc with sticky tape

4 . INJURY [transitive usually passive] ( also tape up ) especially American English to tie a ↑ bandage firmly around an injured part of someone’s body SYN strap British English :

His ankle had been taped.

5 . have (got) something/somebody taped British English informal to understand someone or something completely and know how to deal with them:

You can’t fool Liz – she’s got you taped.

• • •

THESAURUS

▪ fasten to join together the two sides of a piece of clothing, bag, belt etc:

He fastened the necklace behind her neck.

▪ attach to fasten something firmly to another object or surface, using screws, nails, tape, glue etc:

The boards were attached with screws.

|

The prisoner was attached to the wall with chains.

▪ join to connect or fasten things together:

Join the pieces using a strong glue

▪ glue to join things together using glue:

Glue the fabric to the white card.

▪ tape to fasten something using tape:

The students' name cards were taped to the table.

▪ staple to fasten something using ↑ staple s (=a small piece of wire that is pressed through paper using a special machine) :

Don't staple your resumé to your cover letter.

▪ clip to fasten things together using a ↑ clip (=a small metal object) :

A photo was clipped to the letter.

▪ tie to fasten a tie, shoelaces etc by making a knot:

Don't forget to tie your shoelaces!

▪ do something up especially British English to fasten a piece of clothing or the buttons etc on it:

The teacher doesn't have time to do up every child's coat.

|

Let me do it up for you.

▪ button (up) to fasten a shirt, coat etc with buttons:

His shirt was buttoned right to the top.

▪ zip (up) to fasten a piece of clothing, a bag etc with a ↑ zip :

Zip up your jacket, it's cold.

▪ buckle (up) to fasten a seat belt, belt, shoe etc that has a ↑ buckle (=small metal object that fits through a hole in a strap) :

The little girl struggled to buckle her shoes.

▪ unfasten/untie/undo/unbutton/unzip to open something that is fastened:

Do not unfasten your seatbelt until the car has stopped completely.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.