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

Get your rulers or measuring tapes out and share your snow depth pics with us in the replies.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2023

Arms are made of red construction paper; flower stems, of measuring tapes.

From New York Times • Aug. 3, 2020

Even though the rest of the dive team carries nothing more than cameras and measuring tapes, the fish trail them, too, as they make their way back toward the beach.

From Scientific American • Sep. 18, 2015

Word began leaking out recently as outsiders showed up with measuring tapes and checklists, telling locals they couldn’t talk about what they were doing and booking lots of hotel rooms.

From Washington Times • Aug. 26, 2014

At lunchtime, armed with measuring tapes, clipboards, and pencils, they’d covered the first floor, checking even unlikely places.

From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett