/ teɪp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] a long narrow strip of magnetic material that is used for recording sounds, pictures or information :
His albums are available on tape and CD.
—see also magnetic tape , videotape
2.
[ C ] a cassette that contains sounds, or sounds and pictures, that have been recorded :
a blank tape (= a tape that has nothing recorded on it)
I lent her my Bob Marley tapes.
Police seized various books and tapes.
3.
[ U ] a long narrow strip of material with a sticky substance on one side that is used for sticking things together :
adhesive / sticky tape
—see also insulating tape , masking tape , Scotch tape , Sellotape
4.
[ C , U ] a narrow strip of material that is used for tying things together or as a label :
The papers were in a pile, tied together with a tape.
—see also red tape , ticker tape
5.
[ C ] a long narrow strip of material that is stretched across the place where a race will finish :
the finishing tape
6.
[ C ] = tape measure
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to record sb/sth on magnetic tape using a special machine :
Private conversations between the two had been taped and sent to a newspaper.
2.
tape sth (up) to fasten sth by sticking or tying it with tape :
Put it in a box and tape it up securely.
3.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to stick sth onto sth else using sticky tape :
Someone had taped a message on the door.
4.
( NAmE ) tape sth (up) to tie a bandage firmly around an injury or a wound :
That's a nasty cut—come on, we'll get it all taped up.
•
IDIOMS
- have (got) sb/sth taped
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English tæppa , tæppe ; perhaps related to Middle Low German teppen pluck, tear.