tan

¹

[tan]

verb (used with object)

tanned, tanning 

1. to convert (a hide) into leather, especially by soaking or steeping in a bath prepared from tanbark or synthetically.

2. to make brown by exposure to ultraviolet rays, as of the sun.

3. Informal.,  to thrash; spank.

verb (used without object)

tanned, tanning 

1. to become tanned.

noun

1. the brown color imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun or open air.

2. yellowish brown; light brown.

3. tanbark.

adjective

tanner, tannest 

1. of the color of tan; yellowish-brown.

2. used in or relating to tanning processes, materials, etc.

tan

²

[tan]

noun

1. tangent.

Tan

³

[tan]

noun

1. Amy, born 1952, U.S. novelist.

TAN

⁴

[tan]

noun

1. tax-anticipation note.

tan

¹

/ tæn /

noun

1. the brown colour produced by the skin after intensive exposure to ultraviolet rays, esp those of the sun

2. a light or moderate yellowish-brown colour

3. short for tanbark

verb

1. to go brown or cause to go brown after exposure to ultraviolet rays

   she tans easily

2. to convert (a skin or hide) into leather by treating it with a tanning agent, such as vegetable tannins, chromium salts, fish oils, or formaldehyde

3. slang,  (tr) to beat or flog

adjective

1. of the colour tan

   tan gloves

2. used in or relating to tanning

tan

²

/ tæn /

abbreviation

1. tangent (sense 2)

tan

1. Abbreviation of tangent

Other Word Forms

• tannable adjective
• tannish adjective
• untanned adjective
• well-tanned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tan¹

First recorded before 1000; 1920–25 tan ¹ for def. 2; Middle English tannen “to make hide into leather,” late Old English tannian (only in past participle getanned ), from Medieval Latin tannāre, derivative of tannum “oak bark, tanbark,” from Germanic; compare Old High German tanna “oak, fir,” akin to Dutch den “fir”

Origin of tan²

By shortening

Word History and Origins

Origin of tan¹

Old English tannian (unattested as infinitive, attested as getanned, past participle), from Medieval Latin tannāre, from tannum tanbark, perhaps of Celtic origin; compare Irish tana thin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. tan someone's hide, to beat someone soundly.

   She threatened to tan our hides if she found us on her property again.

Example Sentences

Perennially tan with silver hair, deep blue eyes and a body-sculpted physique, he dressed in fitted T-shirts or pullover sweaters more often than a shirt and tie.

From Los Angeles Times

The Skin Cancer Foundation says BCC most commonly occurs when extended exposure to ultraviolet radiation, from the sun or tanning beds, causes DNA damage and uncontrollable growth of basal cells.

From Salon

"I love my fake tan, I love my lashes," says Helen, 35.

From BBC

Deputies believe Crosby, who has dementia, left the home on foot with Poncho, her tan Chihuahua mix, according to the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office.

From Los Angeles Times

“This assumption that of all the hues of God whiteness alone is inherently and obviously better than brownness or tan leads to curious acts,” he wrote.

From Salon

Related Words

• beige 
• brownish www.thesaurus.com
• drab 
• khaki