tanning

[tan-ing]

noun

1. the process or art of converting hides or skins into leather.

2. a browning or darkening of the skin, as by exposure to the sun.

3. Informal.,  a thrashing; whipping.

Other Word Forms

• nontanning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tanning¹

First recorded in 1475–85; tan ¹, + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The Australian’s already got his shirt off, tanning his famous delts and lats, bare feet in the sand.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Martin—bronzed with flowing locks, as if a Viking chief had a great tanning regimen—is one of the most successful songsmiths in history.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A Scottish-based tanning salon chain made "irresponsible" claims that sunbed use reduced cancer and heart disease deaths, the advertising watchdog has said.

Read more on BBC

The Skin Cancer Foundation says BCC most commonly occurs when extended exposure to ultraviolet radiation, from the sun or tanning beds, causes DNA damage and uncontrollable growth of basal cells.

Read more on Salon

Dr Lacy stresses there is no such thing as a "safe tan", explaining that tanning is a response to skin damage.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• care 
• conservancy 
• conservation 
• safeguarding www.thesaurus.com
• safety 
• security 
• storage