Tarpaulin vs. Tarp — What's the Difference?

A tarpaulin ( tar-PAW-lin, also US: ) or tarp is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with polyurethane, or made of plastics such as polyethylene. Tarpaulins often have reinforced grommets at the corners and along the sides to form attachment points for rope, allowing them to be tied down or suspended.

A tarpaulin.

Material, such as waterproofed canvas, used to cover and protect things from moisture.

A tarpaulin.

A sheet of this material.

To cover something with a tarpaulin.

(countable) A tarp, a heavy, waterproof sheet of material, often cloth, used as a cover or blanket.

Waterproofed canvas

A sailor.

Any heavy, waterproof material used as a cover.

Canvas waterproofed with tar, used as a cover.

A hat made of, or covered with, painted or tarred cloth, worn by sailors and others.

To cover with a tarpaulin.

A piece of canvas covered with tar or a waterproof composition, used for covering the hatches of a ship, hammocks, boats, etc.

A hat made of, or covered with, painted or tarred cloth, worn by sailors and others.

Hence, a sailor; a seaman; a tar.

Waterproofed canvas