tape

A thin strip with a sticky surface, used to hold things together or cover something.

• Use tape to close the box.
• She fixed the torn page with tape.
• Have you got any tape for this parcel?

Similar words: adhesive tape, sticky tape

Common phrases: sticky tape, adhesive tape, roll of tape

A recording of sounds or moving pictures, whatever equipment was used to make it.

• We watched the tape together.
• The tapes contain interviews with local people.
• Have you heard the tape of their conversation?

How to use it: tape of something (Police listened to a tape of the interview.)

Similar words: recording

Common phrases: video tape, audio tape, tape of something

A long, thin, flat strip of paper, cloth, or plastic, usually kept in a roll.

• Red tape marked the race’s finish line.
• She cut a length of cloth tape.
• They stretched bright plastic tape around the work area.

Similar words: strip, ribbon

Common phrases: paper tape, plastic tape, measuring tape

To stick or hold something in place with a strip of sticky material.

• Please tape the box shut.
• I taped the torn pages together.
• Can you tape this cable to the floor?

How to use it: tape something to something (She taped the note to the door.)

Similar words: stick, fasten

Common phrases: tape something shut, tape something together, tape something down

To record sounds or moving pictures so you can listen to or watch them later.

• Can you tape the show for me?
• She taped the interview yesterday.
• They are taping tonight’s concert for television.

Similar words: record

Common phrases: tape a show, tape an interview, tape a conversation

To understand something well enough to know how to deal with it.

• I have this game taped.
• She soon got the new system taped.
• Once we had the problem taped, the work went smoothly.

Similar words: figure out, understand

Common phrases: have something taped, get something taped