tent

¹ American  

[tent] / tɛnt /

noun

1. a portable shelter of skins, canvas, plastic, or the like, supported by one or more poles or a frame and often secured by ropes fastened to pegs in the ground.

2. something that resembles a tent.

3. tent dress.

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verb (used with object)

1. to lodge in tents.

2. to cover with or as if with a tent.

   In winter the tennis courts are tented in plastic.

verb (used without object)

1. to live in a tent; encamp.

tent ² American  

[tent] / tɛnt /

noun

1. a roll or pledget, usually of soft absorbent material, as lint or gauze, for dilating an orifice, keeping a wound open, etc.

2. a probe.

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verb (used with object)

1. to keep (a wound) open with a tent.

tent ³ American  

[tent] / tɛnt /

verb (used with object)

Chiefly Scot.

1. to give or pay attention to; heed.

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tent ¹ British  

/ tɛnt /

noun

1. 1. a portable shelter of canvas, plastic, or other waterproof material supported on poles and fastened to the ground by pegs and ropes

   2. ( as modifier )

      tent peg

2. something resembling this in function or shape

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verb

1. (intr) to camp in a tent

2. (tr) to cover with or as if with a tent or tents

3. (tr) to provide with a tent as shelter

tent ² British  

/ tɛnt /

noun

1. heed; attention

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verb

1. to pay attention to; take notice of

2. to attend to

tent ³ British  

/ tɛnt /

noun

1. a plug of soft material for insertion into a bodily canal, etc, to dilate it or maintain its patency

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verb

1. (tr) to insert such a plug into (a bodily canal, etc)

tent ⁴ British  

/ tɛnt /

noun

1. obsolete a red table wine from Alicante, Spain

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Other Word Forms

• tented
  adjective
• tenter
  noun
• tentless
  adjective
• tentlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tent¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English tente, from Old French, from Latin tenta, feminine of tentus, past participle of tendere “to extend, stretch”

Origin of tent²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tent(e), teint(e) “a probe,” from Middle French tente “a probe, roll of lint,” noun derivative of tenter, from Latin tentāre, variant of temptāre tempt

Origin of tent³

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, tente(n), “to plan, intend, look after,” derivative of tent(e) “attention,” shortening of attent, past participle of attenden “to pay attention to, heed,” from Old French atente “attention, intention,” from Latin attenta, feminine of attentus, past participle of attendere to attend

Explanation

A tent is a temporary shelter made out of heavy material such as canvas. When you go camping, you might sleep in a camper, a rustic cabin, or a tent. Tents can be lightweight enough to be carried by a hiker for miles, or much heavier and more cumbersome. As a verb, tent means either "stay in a tent" or "cover, as you do with a tent." So you might tent your head with a blanket to keep your crazy cat from attacking you, or tent a pie with aluminum foil to keep the crust from burning. Tent comes from a Latin root, tentus, meaning "stretched."

Example Sentences

It was much smaller than what we’re expecting of this new one, which is set up where the massive Sahara Tent is during Coachella.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Madonna first appeared at Coachella in 2006, popping up at the Sahara Tent instead of the main stage to perform Confessions On A Dance Floor.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

It subs in for the more rock-leaning Sonora Tent that was broadcast on the Weekend 1 stream.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

When set times were announced for Weekend 1, it was revealed that former headliner Jack White would be playing in the Mojave Tent on Saturday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

To make ends meet, Mama cooked for twenty farm workers who lived in Tent City.

From "The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child" by Francisco Jiménez

Related Words

• canvas
• pavilion