Tan

/tæn/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A yellowish-brown color.

The walls were painted a warm tan.

A shade of skin color resulting from exposure to sunlight.

After a week at the beach, she had a deep tan.

verb

To make (skin) brown or darker through exposure to sunlight or artificial light.

She likes to tan by the pool during the summer.

To convert animal hides into leather by treating them with tannin or other agents.

The artisan learned how to tan the leather using traditional methods.

adjective

Having a brownish color, similar to that of tanned skin.

He wore a tan jacket that complemented his dark trousers.

Middle English 'tan' meaning to tan leather, from the verb 'tan', referring to the process of curing animal hide.

get a tan:

To become suntanned, usually from spending time in the sun.

tan line:

A lighter line of skin where a tan has not developed, often caused by clothing.

tan your hide:

To scold or punish someone, often humorously.

To tan someone

He was tanned for being late to the meeting.

Tan as in to defeat decisively.

They tanned the competition in that game.