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.