tat
1 Americanverb (used with or without object)
noun
verb (used with or without object)
abbreviation
noun
-
tatty articles or a tatty condition
-
tasteless articles
-
a tangled mass
verb
noun
noun
Etymology
Origin of tat1
First recorded in 1900–05; back formation from tatting
Origin of tat2
First recorded in 1980–85; shortening of tattoo 2 ( def. )
Explanation
To tat is to make lace. Tatting involves making loops and tying knots in a long piece of thread over and over again. Most of the lace made today is created with a machine, and the ability to tat, or make lace by hand, is rare. Tatting requires a lot of silk or cotton thread and either a metal disc called a "shuttle," needles, or a crochet hook. You may also find tat used as a noun to mean "cheap, tasteless stuff," or informally to mean "tattoo," as in "Hey, I love the new tat on your shoulder."
Vocabulary lists containing tat
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In this tit for tat, though, California’s threats to respond have thus far proved ineffectual.
From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025
She said: "You work hard for your money, don't spend it on landfill novelty gifts that mean nothing and that will fill houses with tat."
From BBC • Dec. 16, 2023
It's a tit for tat, following fresh U.S. curbs on chip exports.
From Reuters • Oct. 20, 2023
Tit for tat is the coin of the congressional realm.
From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2023
If it isn't tat from Taiwan, I paid far too much for something I'll only use twice.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.