tarpaulin
noun
tar·pau·lin
tär-ˈpȯ-lən 
ˈtär-pə-;
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
Encampments, tents, tarpaulins, people in tatters staggering in the street.
—Mark Gozonsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Women sleep under tarpaulin tents with their families on thin mats cast onto the ground.
—Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
Many live in bamboo and tarpaulin shelters perched on hilly slopes that are vulnerable to strong winds, rain, and landslides.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 12 May 2023
Meanwhile, Addi has laid out a feast of oats on the tarpaulin under a tree for shade.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Jan. 2024
The fire, which started around 2 p.m., consumed several thousand bamboo and tarpaulin shelters, as well as facilities like hospitals and schools, until it was put out by Rohingya and Bangladeshi firefighters around 5:30 p.m., local authorities said.
—Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2023
Following the appearance of the threat, the San Bernardino group canceled its concert at the Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, as did Peso Pluma weeks earlier, after having received the same death threat on a tarpaulin signed with the initials CJNG, alluding to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 9 Feb. 2024
The padding is cushiony, and the exterior waterproof tarpaulin and Robic 1680-denier ballistic nylon materials have held up extremely well over time.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2023
At sunrise, mist lifted to reveal several hundred bamboo and tarpaulin shelters clinging to muddy hillsides.
—Yan Naing, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2023
Mark Gozonsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Women sleep under tarpaulin tents with their families on thin mats cast onto the ground.
—Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
Many live in bamboo and tarpaulin shelters perched on hilly slopes that are vulnerable to strong winds, rain, and landslides.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 12 May 2023
Meanwhile, Addi has laid out a feast of oats on the tarpaulin under a tree for shade.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Jan. 2024
The fire, which started around 2 p.m., consumed several thousand bamboo and tarpaulin shelters, as well as facilities like hospitals and schools, until it was put out by Rohingya and Bangladeshi firefighters around 5:30 p.m., local authorities said.
—Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2023
Following the appearance of the threat, the San Bernardino group canceled its concert at the Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, as did Peso Pluma weeks earlier, after having received the same death threat on a tarpaulin signed with the initials CJNG, alluding to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 9 Feb. 2024
The padding is cushiony, and the exterior waterproof tarpaulin and Robic 1680-denier ballistic nylon materials have held up extremely well over time.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2023
At sunrise, mist lifted to reveal several hundred bamboo and tarpaulin shelters clinging to muddy hillsides.
—Yan Naing, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tarpaulin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tarpaulin
Cite this Entry
“Tarpaulin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarpaulin. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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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