tan

¹ American  

[tan] / tæn /

verb (used with object)

tanned, tanning

1. to convert (a hide) into leather, especially by soaking or steeping in a bath prepared from tanbark or synthetically.

2. to make brown by exposure to ultraviolet rays, as of the sun.

3. Informal. to thrash; spank.

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verb (used without object)

tanned, tanning

1. to become tanned.

noun

1. the brown color imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun or open air.

2. yellowish brown; light brown.

3. tanbark.

adjective

tanner, tannest

1. of the color of tan; yellowish-brown.

2. used in or relating to tanning processes, materials, etc.

idioms

1. tan someone's hide, to beat someone soundly.

   She threatened to tan our hides if she found us on her property again.

tan ² American  

[tan] / tæn /

noun

1. tangent.

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Tan ³ American  

[tan] / tæn /

noun

1. Amy, born 1952, U.S. novelist.

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TAN ⁴ American  

[tan] / tæn /

noun

1. tax-anticipation note.

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tan ¹ British  

/ tæn /

noun

1. the brown colour produced by the skin after intensive exposure to ultraviolet rays, esp those of the sun

2. a light or moderate yellowish-brown colour

3. short for tanbark

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verb

1. to go brown or cause to go brown after exposure to ultraviolet rays

   she tans easily

2. 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

3. slang (tr) to beat or flog

adjective

1. of the colour tan

   tan gloves

2. used in or relating to tanning

tan ² British  

/ tæn /

abbreviation

1. tangent (sense 2)

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tan Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of tangent

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Other Word Forms

• tannable adjective
• tannish adjective
• untanned adjective
• well-tanned adjective

Etymology

Origin of tan¹

First recorded before 1000; 1920–25 tan ¹ for def. 2; Middle English tannen “to make hide into leather,” late Old English tannian (only in past participle getanned ), from Medieval Latin tannāre, derivative of tannum “oak bark, tanbark,” from Germanic; compare Old High German tanna “oak, fir,” akin to Dutch den “fir”

Origin of tan²

By shortening

Explanation

Tan is a light brown color you might also call "beige." If you want to brighten up your bedroom, you can paint your boring tan walls with green, yellow, and hot pink stripes. Some people who spend a lot of time outside in the sun end up with a tan, a darker skin tone than they usually have. The verb tan means to deliberately soak up the sun in the hopes of getting a tan. You can also use tan as a verb to describe the process of making leather from animal skins: "Then I'll tan the deer hide by soaking it in this solution."

Example Sentences

They glittered in gold platform heels, black and tan powersuits, and fur-lined wool dresses for the winter chill lingering in Washington.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

It’s a long-nosed, royal-blue roadster with tan soft-top and wire-spoke wheels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Ruby said while the majority of the comments she received online were positive, she had notice her appearance being discussed, including a time that she chose not to wear fake tan for a competition.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

Unfortunately, this beautiful coat, which ranges in color from a reddish tan to a dark granite, also made them attractive prey for trappers.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

His tan face was boyish, and there was no sign of stubble on his chin.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu

Related Words

• beige
• brownish
• drab
• khaki