tan
1to convert (a hide) into leather, especially by soaking or steeping in a bath prepared fromtanbark or synthetically.
to make brown by exposure to ultraviolet rays, as of the sun.
to become tanned.
the brown color imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun or open air.
yellowish brown; light brown.
of the color of tan; yellowish-brown.
used in or relating to tanning processes, materials, etc.
Idioms about tan
tan someone's hide, Informal. to beat someone soundly: She threatened to tan our hides if she found us on her property again.
Origin of tan
1Other words from tan
- tan·na·ble, adjective
- un·tanned, adjective
- well-tanned, adjective
Other definitions for Tan (3 of 4)
Amy, born 1952, U.S. novelist.
Other definitions for TAN (4 of 4)
tax-anticipation note.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for tan (1 of 2)
/ (tæn) /
the brown colour produced by the skin after intensive exposure to ultraviolet rays, esp those of the sun
a light or moderate yellowish-brown colour
short for tanbark
to go brown or cause to go brown after exposure to ultraviolet rays: she tans easily
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
(tr) slang to beat or flog
of the colour tan: tan gloves
used in or relating to tanning
Origin of tan
1Derived forms of tan
- tannable, adjective
- tannish, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for tan (2 of 2)
/ (tæn) /
tangent (sense 2)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for tan
Abbreviation of tangent
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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