tan

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Definitions (49)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (13)

  1. transitive verb To convert (hide) into leather, as by treating with tannin.
  2. transitive verb To make brown by exposure to the sun.
  3. transitive verb Informal To thrash; beat.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (25)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (5)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (6)

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Examples

  • He had sallow skin that looked in need of a sun-tan, and strong thick black hair curving in springy curls round his ears. —  Bonecrack
  • "You Cap-tan, ah Hud-sun!" the senior officer suddenly screeched. —  Black Friday
  • The low cut of her dress provided him with an excellent view of the upper rises of her breasts, and of the only expanse of skin visible-an expanse of a dark tan; he could never truly be sure if the tan was the result of long hours bathing in the sun or of natural hereditary causes. —  An East Wind Coming
  • The remainder has to be got from other sources 69] An acreage of a tan is aimed at, but it is frequently larger; it may even be 4 tan (an acre). —  The Foundations of Japan Notes Made During Journeys Of 6,000 Miles In The Rural Districts As A Basis For A Sounder Knowledge Of The Japanese People
  • She wished desperately that Elis - tan were here. —  Time of the Twins
 

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Tan has been looked up 197 times, favorited 0 times, listed 12 times, and commented on once.

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Etymologies (6)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English tannen, from Old English *tannian, from Medieval Latin tannāre, from tannum, tanbark, probably of Celtic origin.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (5)

  1. Chin, tan, a large earthen jar capable of holding a picul.
  2. Japanese
  3. Formerly also tann, early modern English tanne; from Middle English tannen, from Anglo-Saxon tannian (found once, in the past participle getanned) = Middle Dutch tannen, tanen, taenen, teynen, Dutch tanen, tan; cf. Old French tanner, taner, French tanner, dial. tener (Middle Latin tannare, tanare), tan, dye of a tawny color; apparently from a noun not found in Anglo-Saxon, = Middle Dutch tanne, tane, taene, Old French and F. tan, Middle Latin tanum, oak-bark for tanning, tan; cf. Breton tann, oak, oak-bark for tanning; from Old High German tanna, Middle High German G. tanne, fir, oak. The relations of these forms are in part uncertain. Hence (through F.) English tanny, tawny.
  4. See tan, v. The noun is prob. earlier than the verb in Roman, but appears later in English
  5. Ult. from Anglo-Saxon tān, a twig, bough: see mistletoe.
 

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/tæn/
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