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

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

After five or 10 minutes they left the room and used masking tape to tape up around the door and seal the room.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2023

The lobby was tiled in unattractive squares of tan, with a row of mailboxes marked with masking tape or white labels.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri