tan
tan Lexical Profile
tan Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Of a pale yellowish-brown color, similar to that of tanned leather.
"He wore a classic tan trench coat over his suit during the rainy commute."
Having skin darkened to a golden-brown color by exposure to sunlight.
"Her face and arms looked noticeably tan after spending the entire week gardening outdoors."
• noun
A yellowish-brown colour imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun or ultraviolet light.
"She returned from her summer vacation at the beach with a deep golden tan."
A pale yellowish-brown color resembling the shade of treated leather.
"The interior designer chose warm shades of cream and tan for the living room upholstery."
In trigonometry, the written abbreviation for the tangent function of an angle.
"Students learned how to calculate the height of the tower using the tan button on their scientific calculators."
Crushed oak or other tree bark rich in tannin, used for converting animal hides into leather.
"Historically, workers soaked raw hides in vats filled with water and crushed oak tan."
• verb
To become or cause skin to become brown through exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet rays.
"Because of his fair complexion, his skin tends to burn easily rather than tan."
To convert raw animal hide into durable leather by soaking it in a liquid containing tannic acid or other curing agents.
"Local artisans still tan cowhides using traditional vegetable extracts rather than harsh synthetic chemicals."
• Rhymes for tan
Word Origin & Etymology
Ultimately from Old English 'tannian' (to convert hide into leather) and reinforced by Old French 'tan' (crushed oak bark used in leatherworking), probably of Gaulish origin.