tape

n. [ AS. tæppe a fillet. Cf. Tapestry, Tippet. ] 1. A narrow fillet or band of cotton or linen; a narrow woven fabric used for strings and the like; as, curtains tied with tape. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tapeline; also, a metallic ribbon so marked as to serve as a tapeline; as, a steel tape. [ 1913 Webster ]

Red tape. See under Red. --
Tape grass (Bot.), a plant (Vallisneria spiralis) with long ribbonlike leaves, growing in fresh or brackish water; -- called also fresh-water eelgrass, and, in Maryland, wild celery. --
Tape needle. See Bodkin, n., 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. an electroinic device for recording and playing back sounds on magnetic tape; usually it needs to be connected to an amplifier system for playback. [ PJC ]

n. A painted tape, marked with linear dimensions, as inches, feet, etc., and often inclosed in a case, -- used for measuring. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make or cause to taper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. tapur, tapor, taper; cf. Ir. tapar, W. tampr. ] 1. A small wax candle; a small lighted wax candle; hence, a small light. [ 1913 Webster ]

Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness in an elongated object; as, the taper of a spire. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Supposed to be from taper, n., in allusion to its form. ] Regularly narrowed toward the point; becoming small toward one end; conical; pyramidical; as, taper fingers. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Tapered p. pr. & vb. n. Tapering. ] To become gradually smaller toward one end; as, a sugar loaf tapers toward one end. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. an electroinic device for recording and playing back sounds on magnetic tape; it often has an integrated microphone, amplifier, and speaker, and in such cases requires no additional equipment other than the magnetic tape for recording or playback. [ PJC ]