tarpaulin
noun
tar·pau·lin
tär-ˈpȯ-lən 
ˈtär-pə-lən
ˈtär-pə-lən
nonstandard tär-ˈpōl-yən
plural tarpaulins
1
: a piece of material used especially for protecting exposed objects or areas : tarp
The hatchways of some armed vessels are but poorly secured in bad weather. … They were merely spread over with an old tarpaulin, cracked and rent in every direction.—
Herman Melville
Herman Melville2
dated
: sailor
"What does this here blessed tarpaulin go and do," said Mr. Peggotty, with his face one high noon of enjoyment, "but he loses that there art of his to our little Em'ly."—Charles Dickens
Charles DickensThe Englishman replied, like a rough tarpaulin, "They might starve; they should not plant nor build in that place."—Daniel Defoe
Daniel DefoeExamples of tarpaulin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since its discovery, the Ness has been excavated for up to nine weeks during the summer, at the end of which the trenches are covered by tarpaulins held down by thousands of old tires.
—Peter Ross, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
The cost of a 24-square-meter tarpaulin has risen to between $110 and $170, while nylon sheets sell for $2.70 to $8.30 per square meter depending on the type.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Jan. 2025
Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 saw Hauser & Wirth emerge as a dominant force, reporting the fair’s most valuable sale: an untitled 2014 tarpaulin painting by David Hammons, which fetched an impressive $4.75 million by Wednesday afternoon.
—Nel-Olivia Waga, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
The tarpaulin serving as a roof on Younis’ tent is now torn, allowing water in.
—Abeer Salman, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
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Peter Ross, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
The cost of a 24-square-meter tarpaulin has risen to between $110 and $170, while nylon sheets sell for $2.70 to $8.30 per square meter depending on the type.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Jan. 2025
Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 saw Hauser & Wirth emerge as a dominant force, reporting the fair’s most valuable sale: an untitled 2014 tarpaulin painting by David Hammons, which fetched an impressive $4.75 million by Wednesday afternoon.
—Nel-Olivia Waga, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
The tarpaulin serving as a roof on Younis’ tent is now torn, allowing water in.
—Abeer Salman, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tarpaulin
Dictionary Entries Near tarpaulin
Cite this Entry
“Tarpaulin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarpaulin. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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tarpaulin
noun
tar·pau·lin
tär-ˈpȯ-lən
ˈtär-pə-
ˈtär-pə-
: a piece of material (as waterproof canvas) used for protecting exposed objects
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