sellotape

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableBritishtrademark

   Clear, thin, sticky tape sold in rolls and used for wrapping presents, fixing paper and making quick repairs.

   Grammar: No plural: a roll of sellotape, not 'two sellotapes'.

   Patterns

   • a roll of sellotape
   • a piece of sellotape

   I wrapped the present and fixed the paper with sellotape.

   Can you pass me the sellotape from the drawer?

   He mended the torn page with a strip of sellotape.

2. 2verbtransitiveBritishinformal

   To stick or fix something using clear sticky tape.

   Grammar: Takes an object: she sellotaped the card to the box.

   Patterns

   • sellotape something to something
   • sellotape something down

   She sellotaped the notice to the door.

   He sellotaped the cracked lid back on.

   We sellotaped the posters to the wall.

Word forms

Common combinations

a roll of sellotape

We need a roll of sellotape for the parcels.

strip of sellotape

A strip of sellotape held the corner down.

sellotape something together

She sellotaped the pieces together.

peel off the sellotape

Peel off the sellotape carefully so the paper does not tear.

sellotape over something

He sellotaped over the crack.

Synonyms and how they differ

sticky tape

Sticky tape is the neutral British term and is not tied to a brand name.

Scotch tape

Scotch tape is the American brand name that people use in the same generic way as sellotape in Britain.

adhesive tape

Adhesive tape is a formal, general term for any tape with a sticky side.

cellophane tape

Cellophane tape is the more technical name for the same kind of clear tape.

Word family

tape noun

a narrow strip of material

sellotaped adjective

fixed with tape

cellophane noun

thin transparent material

Commonly confused: sellotape or masking tape?

Practice

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