suntan

[ suhn-tan ]

noun

1. a browning or a brown color of the skin resulting from exposure to sunlight or a sunlamp; tan.
2. Also called mayfair tan, merida. a light to medium yellow-brown.
3. Also called pastel orange. a medium orange color.

verb (used with or without object)

, sun·tanned, sun·tan·ning.

1. tan ¹( defs 2, 4 ).

suntan

/ ˈsʌnˌtæn /

noun

1. 1. a brownish colouring of the skin caused by the formation of the pigment melanin within the skin on exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun or a sunlamp Often shortened totan
   2. ( as modifier )

      suntan oil

Derived Forms

• ˈsunˌtanned, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suntan¹

First recorded in 1900–05; sun + tan ¹

Example Sentences

Her silver hoop earrings glowed against her suntanned cheeks.

From Literature

NOV 2008: Berlusconi hails Barack Obama as "handsome, young and also suntanned", after he was elected the United States' first Black president.

From Reuters

After Barack Obama was elected the first African-American president of the United States, Berlusconi congratulated him for being "tall, handsome, and suntanned".

From Reuters

Douglas attributes the love to the fact that it “tastes like real ingredients that your body recognizes and resonates with, rather than many that might be cheaper but often taste like Coppertone suntan lotion smells.”

From Seattle Times

But the return of pleasant weather this year could bring more than suntans as the deluges provided fertile ground for mosquitoes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beige
• brownish
• drab
• khaki