suntan

[ suhn-tan ]

noun

1. a browning or a brown color of the skin resulting from exposure to sunlight or a sunlamp; tan.
2. Also called mayfair tan, merida. a light to medium yellow-brown.
3. Also called pastel orange. a medium orange color.

verb (used with or without object)

, sun·tanned, sun·tan·ning.

1. tan ¹( defs 2, 4 ).

suntan

/ ˈsʌnˌtæn /

noun

1. 1. a brownish colouring of the skin caused by the formation of the pigment melanin within the skin on exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun or a sunlamp Often shortened totan
   2. ( as modifier )

      suntan oil

Derived Forms

• ˈsunˌtanned, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suntan¹

First recorded in 1900–05; sun + tan ¹

Example Sentences

Some of the pigs were dressed in military uniforms, their hair trimmed to human length, their skin smeared with suntan lotion, to simulate a ship’s crew.

From Washington Post

“Macfarlane is like John Wesley Powell without the suntan, taking us on a psychological spelunking odyssey,” Zoellner adds.

From Outside Online

I did recognize Mr. Kennedy and his suntan I had been hearing about.

From Project Gutenberg

She covered his face up with strong suntan lotion, Then they walked down to the edge of the ocean.

From Project Gutenberg

We all went out together in a group of boys and girls in order to get—to swim a little and to get a suntan.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beige
• brownish
• drab
• khaki