magnetic tape

noun

: a thin ribbon (as of plastic) coated with a magnetic material on which information (such as sound or television images) may be stored

Examples of magnetic tape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the next two decades radio astronomers kept gradually improving their view of Sagittarius A*, but they were limited by a lack of suitable telescopes, relatively clunky technology (think reel-to-reel magnetic tape) and the inherent difficulty of looking into the crowded galactic center. —Seth Fletcher, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2022

So, when Brush looked to others to produce its recording medium, 3M was well positioned to help out due to magnetic tape’s similarity with its Scotch Tape. —IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2024

As mentioned, magnetic tape storage has a scaling problem. —IEEE Spectrum, 17 Feb. 2024

To be sure, the storage density of magnetic tape has been increasing for decades, a trend that will help keep our heads above the data flood for a while longer. —IEEE Spectrum, 17 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

magnetic tape

noun

: a thin ribbon (as of plastic) coated with a magnetic material on which information (as sound or television images) may be stored