tent

¹

[ tent ]

noun

1. a portable shelter of skins, canvas, plastic, or the like, supported by one or more poles or a frame and often secured by ropes fastened to pegs in the ground.
2. something that resembles a tent.
3. tent dress.

verb (used with object)

1. to lodge in tents.
2. to cover with or as if with a tent:

   In winter the tennis courts are tented in plastic.

verb (used without object)

1. to live in a tent; encamp.

tent

²

[ tent ]

noun

1. a roll or pledget, usually of soft absorbent material, as lint or gauze, for dilating an orifice, keeping a wound open, etc.
2. a probe.

verb (used with object)

1. to keep (a wound) open with a tent.

tent

³

[ tent ]

verb (used with object)

, Chiefly Scot.

1. to give or pay attention to; heed.

tent

¹

/ tɛnt /

noun

1. 1. a portable shelter of canvas, plastic, or other waterproof material supported on poles and fastened to the ground by pegs and ropes
   2. ( as modifier )

      tent peg

2. something resembling this in function or shape

verb

1. intr to camp in a tent
2. tr to cover with or as if with a tent or tents
3. tr to provide with a tent as shelter

tent

²

/ tɛnt /

noun

1. obsolete.
   a red table wine from Alicante, Spain

tent

³

/ tɛnt /

noun

1. a plug of soft material for insertion into a bodily canal, etc, to dilate it or maintain its patency

verb

1. tr to insert such a plug into (a bodily canal, etc)

tent

⁴

/ tɛnt /

noun

1. heed; attention

verb

1. to pay attention to; take notice of
2. to attend to

Derived Forms

• ˈtentless, adjective
• ˈtentˌlike, adjective
• ˈtented, adjective
• ˈtenter, noun

Other Words From

• tentless adjective
• tentlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tent¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English tente, from Old French, from Latin tenta, feminine of tentus, past participle of tendere “to extend, stretch”

Origin of tent²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tent(e), teint(e) “a probe,” from Middle French tente “a probe, roll of lint,” noun derivative of tenter, from Latin tentāre, variant of temptāre tempt

Origin of tent³

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, tente(n), “to plan, intend, look after,” derivative of tent(e) “attention,” shortening of attent, past participle of attenden “to pay attention to, heed,” from Old French atente “attention, intention,” from Latin attenta, feminine of attentus, past participle of attendere to attend

Word History and Origins

Origin of tent¹

C13: from Old French tente, from Latin tentōrium something stretched out, from tendere to stretch

Origin of tent²

C16: from Spanish tinto dark-coloured; see tint

Origin of tent³

C14 (in the sense: a probe): from Old French tente (noun), ultimately from Latin temptāre to try; see tempt

Origin of tent⁴

C14: from attent attend and intent

Example Sentences

Since August, she’s overseen an aggressive campaign to clear out large tent encampments.

From Los Angeles Times

In terms of linear television, it’s more tent than tentpole, but the canvas is sound; there are no rips developing, no threadbare patches to let the rain in.

From Los Angeles Times

The interview process involved "lots of weird and wonderful tasks", he said, including having to put up a tent while blindfolded and wearing oven mitts.

From BBC

I spoke with Sarkar shortly after visiting his food tent in partnership with Shan Foods at Smorgasburg.

From Salon

Folt and her team called in police to dismantle a tent encampment that students set up in support of Palestinians, leading to 93 arrests.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• canvas
• pavilion