paper tape: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Technical / Historical / Hobbyist
Quick answer
What does “paper tape” mean?
A physical medium used for data storage, consisting of a long, narrow strip of paper with patterns of holes punched into it, historically used in telecommunications and early computing to represent data.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A physical medium used for data storage, consisting of a long, narrow strip of paper with patterns of holes punched into it, historically used in telecommunications and early computing to represent data.
A term which can also refer to a simple adhesive tape made of paper, but this usage is less common without further specification. In modern contexts, the term is strongly associated with historical or legacy technology and its enthusiasts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both refer to the same historical technology. In general discourse, 'paper tape' is equally understood but rarely used in either variety.
Connotations
In both varieties, strong connotations of antiquated technology, early computing, teleprinters, and retro computing hobbies.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language for both. Slightly higher frequency in niches like computer history, museum contexts, or specific engineering/telecom fields discussing legacy systems.
Grammar
How to Use “paper tape” in a Sentence
to load/read data from paper tapeto punch data onto paper tapea spool/reel of paper tapeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “paper tape” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The paper-tape reader was malfunctioning.
- It was a paper-tape-based system.
American English
- The paper-tape drive was noisy.
- We found a box of paper-tape reels in the attic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used, except in a historical case study about the evolution of data processing.
Academic
Used in historical papers on computing, telecommunications, or information technology history.
Everyday
Almost never used. A younger speaker might not know the term.
Technical
Used precisely in retro-computing, computer preservation, museum documentation, and some legacy industrial control system contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “paper tape”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “paper tape”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paper tape”
- Using 'paper tape' to refer to masking tape or parcel tape (use 'paper-based adhesive tape').
- Assuming it is a current technology.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. It is obsolete in mainstream computing and telecommunications. Its use is confined to maintaining legacy industrial systems, historical re-enactments, and hobbyist retro-computing.
Paper tape stores data as physical holes punched in paper, which are read mechanically or optically. Magnetic tape (like cassette or reel-to-reel tape) stores data as magnetised regions on a coated plastic film. Magnetic tape had higher capacity, was reusable, and became the successor technology.
Not primarily. While one could describe a tape made from paper (e.g., masking tape), the unqualified term 'paper tape' strongly defaults to the historical data storage medium. For adhesive tape, specific terms like 'masking tape', 'paper packaging tape', or 'paper-based tape' are used.
Teleprinters (like the Teletype), early computers (e.g., the PDP-8, Altair 8800), numerical control (NC) machine tools, some types of telegraph systems, and old typesetting machines.
A physical medium used for data storage, consisting of a long, narrow strip of paper with patterns of holes punched into it, historically used in telecommunications and early computing to represent data.
Paper tape is usually technical / historical / hobbyist in register.
Paper tape: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪ.pə ˌteɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪ.pɚ ˌteɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an old computer using a scroll of paper, like a ticker-tape parade, but with holes that spell out secret messages for the machine.
Conceptual Metaphor
PAPER TAPE IS A PHYSICAL RECIPE (a sequence of holes provides instructions that a machine 'cooks' into an output).
Practice
Quiz
In modern technical English, 'paper tape' most specifically refers to: