masking tape

American  

noun

masking tapes plural

1. an easily removed adhesive tape used temporarily for defining margins, protecting surfaces, etc., as when painting, and sometimes also for binding, sealing, or mending.

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masking tape British  

noun

1. an adhesive tape used to mask and protect surfaces surrounding an area to be painted

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• masking tapes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of masking tape

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

masking tape

Many of the items now live in neat squares made out of masking tape on the shop floor.

From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026

A yet-to-be-opened trading floor was a barren expanse with rows of wooden desks still covered in blue masking tape and empty computer stands awaiting monitors to be screwed onto them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025

The blast wave nevertheless tossed all of his stock into a jumble of shower handles and hoses, boxes of masking tape and home repair tools — all covered in fine, metallic-gray dust.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2024

But so far, nothing has stopped the number on the masking tape from going up.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 12, 2024

He grabbed some masking tape out of the desk drawer and began to create makeshift handles looped on the back of the poster.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro