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tape measure

American  
[teyp mezh-er] / ˈteɪp ˌmɛʒ ər /

noun

  1. Also called tapeline.  a long, flexible strip or ribbon, as of cloth or metal, marked with subdivisions of the foot or meter and used for measuring.


adjective

  1. Baseball. Also tape-measure. (of a hit) having traveled so remarkably far that the distance, usually only estimated, is worth noting.

    This kid’s got so much power, even his foul balls are tape-measure shots.

tape measure British  

noun

  1. Also called (esp US): tapeline.  a tape or length of metal marked off in inches, centimetres, etc, used principally for measuring and fitting garments

"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 tape measure

First recorded in 1835–45 tape measure for def. 1, and in 1950–55 tape measure for def. 2

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.

Some have since been worked into functional items, with his giant tape measure becoming a coffee table and a big plug turned into a cupboard.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Use a flexible tape measure and wrap it around the narrowest part of your neck, keeping the tape snug but not tight.

From Science Daily • Oct. 20, 2025

Make sure they work for you — perhaps spend some time with a tape measure figuring out your ideal desktop height before you order a desk.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 28, 2023

That’s essentially a tape measure around the waist.

From Scientific American • Jul. 5, 2023

“I don’t see a tape measure in your bucket.”

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart