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tapadera

ta-pa-DE-ra/tapaˈðeɾa/

“tapadera” means “lid” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

lid

Also: cover
NounfA2
A shiny metal lid with a handle sitting on top of a cooking pot.

📝 In Action

Pon la tapadera en la olla para que el agua hierva más rápido.

A2

Put the lid on the pot so the water boils faster.

No encuentro la tapadera de este recipiente de plástico.

A2

I can't find the lid for this plastic container.

Ten cuidado, la tapadera está muy caliente.

B1

Be careful, the lid is very hot.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • tapadera de la olla – pot lid
  • ajustar la tapadera – to fit the lid

front

Also: cover-up
NounfB2
A small, colorful flower shop with a bright awning and plants in the window.

📝 In Action

Esa peluquería es solo una tapadera para el casino ilegal.

B2

That hair salon is just a front for the illegal casino.

Usaron la empresa como tapadera para no pagar impuestos.

C1

They used the company as a cover-up to avoid paying taxes.

Nadie sospechaba que su trabajo era una tapadera.

B2

Nobody suspected that his job was a front.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • servir de tapadera – to serve as a front
  • una tapadera perfecta – a perfect cover

Idioms & Expressions

  • quitar la tapadera – To uncover a secret or a scandal

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "tapadera" in Spanish:

cover→cover-up→lid→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tapadera

Question 1 of 3

If you are cooking soup and want to keep the heat in, what do you need?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Spanish verb 'tapar' (to cover), which comes from a Germanic root 'tappa' meaning a plug or stopper. The suffix '-dera' is used in Spanish to create nouns that describe tools or instruments.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: tamponEnglish: tap

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'tapa' and 'tapadera'?

They are very similar. 'Tapa' is more general (a bottle cap, a snack, a lid), while 'tapadera' usually refers specifically to a lid for a pot or a figurative 'front' for a crime.

Is 'tapadera' used for people?

No, it refers to objects or businesses. If a person is helping someone hide a secret, you might say they are 'sirviendo de tapadera' (serving as a cover), but you don't call the person 'a tapadera' directly.

Can I use 'tapadera' for a bottle cap?

Usually, for a bottle cap, you would use 'tapa' or 'tapón'. 'Tapadera' is usually for wider openings, like jars, pots, or boxes.