tame

[ teym ]

adjective

, tam·er, tam·est.

1. changed from the wild or savage state; domesticated:

   a tame bear.

   Antonyms: wild

2. without the savageness or fear of humans normal in wild animals; gentle, fearless, or without shyness, as if domesticated:

   That lion acts as tame as a house cat.

3. tractable, docile, or submissive, as a person or the disposition.

   Synonyms: yielding, obedient, meek

4. lacking in excitement; dull; insipid:

   a very tame party.

   Synonyms: tiresome, tedious, boring, vapid, flat

5. spiritless or pusillanimous.

   Synonyms: fainthearted, dastardly, cowardly

6. not to be taken very seriously; without real power or importance; serviceable but harmless:

   They kept a tame scientist around.

7. brought into service; rendered useful and manageable; under control, as natural resources or a source of power.
8. cultivated or improved by cultivation, as a plant or its fruit.

verb (used with object)

, tamed, tam·ing.

1. to make tame; domesticate; make tractable.

   Synonyms: subdue, break

2. to deprive of courage, ardor, or zest.
3. to deprive of interest, excitement, or attractiveness; make dull.
4. to soften; tone down.

   Synonyms: mollify, moderate, calm

5. to harness or control; render useful, as a source of power.
6. to cultivate, as land or plants.

verb (used without object)

, tamed, tam·ing.

1. to become tame.

tame

/ teɪm /

adjective

1. changed by man from a naturally wild state into a tractable, domesticated, or cultivated condition
2. (of animals) not fearful of human contact
3. lacking in spirit or initiative; meek or submissive

   a tame personality

4. flat, insipid, or uninspiring

   a tame ending to a book

5. slow-moving

   a tame current

verb

1. to make tame; domesticate
2. to break the spirit of, subdue, or curb
3. to tone down, soften, or mitigate

Derived Forms

• ˌtamaˈbility, noun
• ˈtameness, noun
• ˈtamable, adjective
• ˈtameless, adjective
• ˈtamer, noun
• ˈtamely, adverb

Other Words From

• tame·ly adverb
• tame·ness noun
• tam·er noun
• o·ver·tame adjective
• o·ver·tame·ly adverb
• o·ver·tame·ness noun
• un·tame adjective
• un·tame·ly adverb
• un·tame·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tame¹

First recorded before 900; (adjective) Middle English; Old English tam; cognate with Dutch tam, German zahm, Old Norse tamr; (verb) Middle English tamen, derivative of the adjective; replacing Middle English temen “to tame,” Old English temian, derivative of tam; cognate with Old Norse temja, Gothic gatamjan; akin to Latin domāre “to tame”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tame¹

Old English tam; related to Old Norse tamr, Old High German zam

Example Sentences

The sighting was unusual because the beluga was so tame and they're rarely seen as far south.

From BBC

The tame white whale, which locals named Hvaldimir, made headlines five years ago amidst widespread speculation that it was a Russian spy.

From BBC

After receiving pictures, she sent "a very tame sexual image, and that’s when everything switched".

From BBC

And you can detect echoes of ELO’s expansive but ultra-detailed approach in the work of a generation of indie-rock studio obsessives like Tame Impala, Phoenix and Vampire Weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

You will cook the sauce long enough to tame the alcohol regardless, and it will taste great either way.

From Salon

Related Words

• docile
• gentle
• harmless
• manageable
• mild
• subdued