tang

¹

[ tang ]

noun

1. a strong taste or flavor.

   Synonyms: savor

2. the distinctive flavor or quality of a thing.
3. a pungent or distinctive odor.
4. a touch or suggestion of something; slight trace.

   Synonyms: hint, taste

5. a long and slender projecting strip, tongue, or prong forming part of an object, as a chisel, file, or knife, and serving as a means of attachment for another part, as a handle or stock.
6. a surgeonfish.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a tang.

tang

²

[ tang ]

noun

1. a sharp ringing or twanging sound; clang.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to ring or twang; clang.

T'ang

³

or Tang

[ tahng ]

noun

1. a dynasty in China, a.d. 618–907, marked by territorial expansion, the invention of printing, and the high development of poetry.

Tang

¹

/ tæŋ /

noun

1. the imperial dynasty of China from 618–907 ad

tang

²

/ tæŋ /

noun

1. a strong taste or flavour

   the tang of the sea

2. a pungent or characteristic smell

   the tang of peat fires

3. a trace, touch, or hint of something

   a tang of cloves in the apple pie

4. the pointed end of a tool, such as a chisel, file, knife, etc, which is fitted into a handle, shaft, or stock

Word History and Origins

Origin of tang¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tange “tongue of a snake, projection on a tool,” perhaps from Old Norse tangi “projection, headland, tang of a blade”

Origin of tang²

First recorded in 1660–70; imitative; ting ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tang¹

C14: from Old Norse tangi point; related to Danish tange point, spit

Example Sentences

The result is a punch of spice, a tickle of tang and a soupçon of sweet.

From Los Angeles Times

The blue, whose top three ingredients are organic pumpkin seeds, organic coconut oil, and lima beans, was very close; it got me at first with its sharp tang and characteristic crumbliness.

From Salon

Outside, the briny tang of windswept sea air, the North Sea swirling tempestuously below.

From New York Times

They all come with the tang of green chutney and pickled onions.

From Seattle Times

The morning air was already heavy with the salty tang of Redondo Beach’s humidity.

From Los Angeles Times