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• tang
  tang

  noun

  a strong taste or flavor.
• T'ang
  T'ang

  noun

  a dynasty in China, a.d. 618–907, marked by territorial expansion, the invention of printing, and the high development of poetry.
• Tang
  Tang

  noun

  the imperial dynasty of China from 618–907 _ad

tang

¹ American  

[tang] / tæŋ /

noun

1. a strong taste or flavor.

   Synonyms:

   savor

2. the distinctive flavor or quality of a thing.

3. a pungent or distinctive odor.

4. a touch or suggestion of something; slight trace.

   Synonyms:

   hint, taste

5. a long and slender projecting strip, tongue, or prong forming part of an object, as a chisel, file, or knife, and serving as a means of attachment for another part, as a handle or stock.

6. a surgeonfish.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a tang.

tang ² American  

[tang] / tæŋ /

noun

1. a sharp ringing or twanging sound; clang.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to ring or twang; clang.

T'ang ³ American  

[tahng] / tɑŋ /

Or Tang

noun

1. a dynasty in China, a.d. 618–907, marked by territorial expansion, the invention of printing, and the high development of poetry.

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tang ¹ British  

/ tæŋ /

noun

1. a strong taste or flavour

   the tang of the sea

2. a pungent or characteristic smell

   the tang of peat fires

3. a trace, touch, or hint of something

   a tang of cloves in the apple pie

4. the pointed end of a tool, such as a chisel, file, knife, etc, which is fitted into a handle, shaft, or stock

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Tang ² British  

/ tæŋ /

noun

1. the imperial dynasty of China from 618–907 _ad

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Etymology

Origin of tang¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tange “tongue of a snake, projection on a tool,” perhaps from Old Norse tangi “projection, headland, tang of a blade”

Origin of tang²

First recorded in 1660–70; imitative; see ting ¹

Explanation

A tang is a sharp flavor or smell, like the tang of fresh-squeezed lemonade or the tang of the salty ocean breeze. When you eat something sour, you taste a tang, like the tang of blue cheese or vinegar in your salad. Although it's no longer available today, Tang was also the name of a tangy, sugary orange drink that was especially popular in the 1960s and 70s. From a root word meaning "to bite," tang's original meaning was "serpent's tongue."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tang T'ang Tang

The buttery, milder fish compliments the tang of the tomatoes and the bright balsamic dressing that finishes the salad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

In a hearty lentil-and-vegetable soup, lemon juice contrasts those earthy, spicy flavors with tang and a hint of sweetness.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

“You won’t miss the statue,” the clerk said, the slightest tang of exasperation in his tone.

From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026

Brining chicken in pickle juice — whether for fried chicken, grilled chicken or air-fried tenders — keeps it unbelievably moist while adding a subtle tang that’s difficult to identify outright.

From Salon ● May 28, 2026

Mr. Hatch had come inside to start a fire, and I smelled a faint tang of wood smoke.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

From the hand-painted cards of T’ang Dynasty China to paper-and-plastic Pokémon trading cards, the history of playing cards spans cultures, epochs, and continents.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 3, 2023

References to “domino cards” existed as early as the T’ang Dynasty, which lasted from 618-907 AD.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 3, 2023

By the time the Pekingese had become a proper breed during the T’ang dynasty, only the Chinese imperial family was allowed to keep them.

From Time ● Feb. 15, 2012

A color may be baked on: T'ang red, clair de lune blue, Ming green, rose du Barry, orchid de Vincennes, etc., etc.

From Time Magazine Archive

Probably looking at the moon and reciting some poem from the T’ang Dynasty.”

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

After Powell’s press conferences, “we just sort of took for granted that the consensus view had been well represented and fleshed out,” Tang said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

After this month's raids, security chief Chris Tang said booksellers must ensure the items they sell "do not endanger national security".

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

There were no dissents at the June meeting, Warsh’s first as chair, as central-bank officials gave him a “honeymoon” that isn’t expected to last, said Derek Tang, co-founder of LH Meyer/Monetary Policy Analytics.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 25, 2026

“I think people are antsy about it, because they just don’t know whether Warsh will come up and surprise us,” Tang said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

As we ate, Father asked questions about the Tang people’s town in the low voice we all used after the earthquake.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep