tapa

¹ American  

[tah-pah] / ˈtɑ pɑ /

noun

1. Usually tapas (especially in Spain) a snack or appetizer, typically served with wine or beer.

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tapa ² American  

[tah-puh, tap-uh] / ˈtɑ pə, ˈtæp ə /

noun

1. the bark of the paper mulberry.

2. Also called tapa cloth.  a cloth of the Pacific Islands made by pounding the bark of the paper mulberry, or similar barks, flat and thin: used for clothing and floor covering.

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tapa British  

/ ˈtɑːpə /

noun

1. the inner bark of the paper mulberry

2. a paper-like cloth made from this in the Pacific islands

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Etymology

Origin of tapa¹

< Spanish: literally, cover, lid (probably < Germanic; see tap ²)

Origin of tapa²

Borrowed into English from Polynesian around 1815–25

Example Sentences

First, the bOOmVeja tapa, only here in Basque country, they’re called pintxos.

From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025

On the fringes, there is a wealth of great restaurants and tapa bars, while street bands, spontaneous parties and shows for children all go to place it among the most popular festivals in the world.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2022

Sharing a meal over fragrant plates of tapa and sisig at L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2022

A shake of paprika and a spritz of lime give way to a tanner, brighter tapa.

From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2022

So goes a famous Pashtun tapa, a couplet my grandmother taught me.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai