paper tape

American

noun

Computers.

a narrow strip of paper in which holes are punched in designated patterns to represent characters: formerly in common use as an input/output medium.

paper tape British

noun

a former name for punched tape

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of paper tape

1885–90, for earlier sense

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cash registers punched holes into paper tape to record sales; the tape would then be sent to headquarters each day and fed into a computer to analyze sales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

You’ll also need scissors, white paper, tape, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack.

From New York Times • Apr. 7, 2024

In the back of the building is a more utilitarian room with shelves of paper, tape and scissors.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 22, 2022

Using a sheet of wrapping paper, tape and a stick-on bow, Hubbard carefully wraps Gracie up in the Santa-patterned paper while she patiently waits.

From Fox News • Dec. 16, 2021

Operators type in an enciphered message, and—if we’ve got the settings right—the original German is printed on paper tape.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023