Meaning & use
taped up
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“taped up” is a form of “tape up”.
Meanings
verbphrasal verb
Past form of tape up: fastened, sealed or wrapped something using adhesive tape.
Grammar: The object can come in the middle or after: he taped up the box, or he taped the box up.
Patterns
- tape something up
- tape up something
She taped up the moving boxes before the movers arrived.
The nurse taped up his bandage so it would stay in place.
We taped up the broken window to keep out the rain.
adjectivebefore a noun
Covered, held together or supported with tape, especially a damaged item or an injured body part.
Grammar: Can appear before a noun or after a linking verb: a taped-up ankle; his ankle was taped up.
Patterns
- taped up ankle
- taped up box
The goalkeeper played with a taped-up wrist.
The taped-up boxes sat in the hallway.
His glasses were taped up in the middle.
Common combinations
- taped up box
- He carried a taped-up box to the car.
- taped up ankle
- The runner limped on a taped-up ankle.
- taped up window
- The taped-up window still let in a draft.
- all taped up
- The package was all taped up and ready.
- neatly taped up
- The gift was neatly taped up and labeled.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sealed
- Sealed means closed so nothing gets in or out, but it does not say tape was used.
- bandaged
- Bandaged refers to wrapping a wound with cloth, not tape, and is medical.
- strapped
- Strapped is used for joints wrapped with elastic bands or tape for support, especially in sport.
- wrapped
- Wrapped covers anything enclosed in material and says nothing about adhesive tape.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: taped up or taped over?
taped up vs taped over
Taped over means covered or recorded over a surface, while taped up means sealed or supported with tape.
Practice
Before the match, the physiotherapist ______ the player's ankle to give it extra support.
Choose one answer.
Taped up means wrapped with adhesive tape. Tapped up looks similar but means to hit lightly or, in British slang, to approach a player illegally, so it does not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “taped up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.