tapa

¹ 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 ² 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 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

Borrowed into English from Polynesian around 1815–25

Origin of tapa¹

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

Example Sentences

I’ve even joked to my boyfriend, Stephen, about starting a matchmaking service—not for romance, but for people seeking a like-minded friend to share tapas, dim sum or a Chili’s Triple Dipper.

From Salon

And like the rest of modern Hong Kong, that menu met the decades with growing diversity, culminating in choices from fast food burgers and tapas to black truffle potstickers and wagyu beef sliders.

From Salon

We love tapas because the longer you’re married, the more you are sharing the meal.

From Los Angeles Times

When the restaurant settled, I moved back to India and opened my first Indian cocktail bar with Indian tapas.

From Salon

Eat and drink for less with the best happy hour discounts in Los Angeles, including West African-inspired vegan cuisine, Spanish tapas, natural wines and nonalcoholic cocktails.

From Los Angeles Times