tan

¹

[ tan ]

verb (used with object)

, tanned, tan·ning.

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, tan·ning.

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 ( def ).

adjective

, tan·ner, tan·nest.

1. of the color of tan; yellowish-brown.
2. used in or relating to tanning processes, materials, etc.

tan

²

[ tan ]

noun

1. tangent ( def 5b ).

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 for

1. tangent (sense 2)

tan

1. Abbreviation of tangent

Derived Forms

• ˈtannable, adjective
• ˈtannish, adjective

Other Words From

• tanna·ble adjective
• un·tanned adjective
• well-tanned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tan¹

First recorded before 1000; 1920–25 tan ¹fordef 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, Informal. to beat someone soundly:

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

Example Sentences

Some wore the Trump uniform of tan khakis and a white dress shirt.

From Salon

He was disguised behind a face mask and hat and had created a fake ID in which he had tanned his skin and wore a black wig with a false beard and moustache.

From BBC

But Team Tugendhat led the field with souvenir hats, t-shirts, mints with his name on them, tattoos - and even Tugend-tan, fake tan.

From BBC

The stands consist of two triangular hardwood structures that clip together through magnets, with naturally tanned leather attachments for the guitars to rest on.

From Los Angeles Times

He wore a camouflage print bucket hat, a black mask that covered his entire face, a yellow hooded sweatshirt, tan pants, gloves and was armed with a silver revolver, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

From Los Angeles Times