tarp

/tɑrp/

/tɑp/

Other forms: tarps

A tarp is a piece of cloth that's usually waterproof canvas. When you're camping, it's a good idea to put a tarp on the damp ground before you set up your tent.

Since 1906, the word tarp has been a common shorthand for tarpaulin. Today tarps are just as likely to be made from vinyl or polyethylene, but they were once uniformly heavy canvas that had been treated with tar to make it water resistant. Tarps are used for yard work, to cover furniture while a room is being painted, or to cover the bed of a truck, among many other uses.

Definitions of tarp

1. noun

   waterproofed canvas
   synonyms: tarpaulin

   type of:

   canvas

   a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)