tanning

American  

[tan-ing] / ˈtæn ɪŋ /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• nontanning adjective

Etymology

Origin of tanning

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

Example Sentences

Tiffany Kahl, who owns a tanning and wellness salon in Pennsylvania, hunts business-class travel deals as a hobby and subscribes to Thrifty Traveler.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Giant, stainless-steel mixing tanks and vats, on their sides, tanning in the Florida sun.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Residents and tourists who were out shopping or tanning on the beach of this gleaming business hub of the United Arab Emirates watched with curiosity as missiles were intercepted above them like loud, daytime fireworks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Harmful misinformation claiming sunbeds offer health benefits in winter is being spread by tanning companies on social media, the BBC has found.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

There was Midland with its improbably tall buildings, glassy and shimmering in the sun like misplaced tanning reflectors.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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