tapa

1 of 2

noun (1)

ta·​pa ˈtä-pə  ˈta- 

: a coarse cloth made in the Pacific islands from the pounded bark especially of the paper mulberry and usually decorated with geometric patterns

tapa

2 of 2

noun (2)

: an hors d'oeuvre served with drinks especially in Spanish bars

—usually used in plural

Examples of tapa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Aside from its rich history, St. Augustine is also home to Spanish flavors, with restaurants serving dishes like paella, tapas and sangria. —Food Drink Life, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025

Longoria will venture to the most beautiful parts of Spain for each location’s culinary staple: pintxos in San Sebastián, Catalan prawns in Barcelona, tortillas in Madrid, tapas and the world’s most expensive jamón in Andalusia and blonde beef in Galicia. —Moná Thomas, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025

Enjoy Spanish tapas from Marina's Tapas's pop-up at Substrate in Optimist Park. —Alexis Clinton, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025

The menu, which changes regularly, features traditional tapas alongside sushi. —Jeremy Duda, Axios, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Marquesan & Tahitian

Noun (2)

Spanish, literally, cover, lid, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old English tæppa tap

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1817, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1939, in the meaning defined above