Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Word of the Day

Blog: Words at Play

Dictionary

tar paper

noun

: a heavy type of paper covered with tar that is used especially in roofs

Full Definition of TAR PAPER

: a heavy paper coated or impregnated with tar for use especially in building

See tar paper defined for English-language learners

See tar paper defined for kids

ADVERTISEMENT

First Known Use of TAR PAPER

1886

Rhymes with TAR PAPER

bond paper, crepe paper, curlpaper, endpaper, escaper, flypaper, graph paper, landscaper, newspaper, notepaper, reshaper, rice paper, sandpaper, skyscraper, term paper, wallpaper, wastepaper, waxed paper, white paper

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: tarpaulinPrevious Word in the Dictionary: tarpanAll Words Near: tar paper

ADVERTISEMENT

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up tar paper? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.

See All

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated