tarp

noun

ˈtärp 

plural tarps

: a piece of material (such as durable plastic or waterproofed canvas) used especially for protecting exposed objects or areas : tarpaulin

The crewmen competed for a place to stand beneath the small tarp that covered part of the narrow deck.

—Matt Potts

This house, half of it's all burned up. They live there, the burned part's covered with a tarp, with their dogs, and they must have at least ten.

—Katya Reno

Examples of tarp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s comments over the weekend came after construction workers set up tarp by the scaffolding last week at the North Portico columns. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 July 2026

The project is covered by large tarps mimicking the existing portico. — Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 10 July 2026

The cover over the logo was cut precisely in the outline of the Levi’s logo – leaving no doubt what the tarp was hiding. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 8 July 2026

One photo depicts a person curled up on a piece of cardboard, using a pillow and, as a makeshift blanket, a tarp. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tarp

• carp
• harp
• scarp
• endocarp
• pericarp

Kids Definition

tarp

noun

ˈtärp 

: tarpaulin