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Synonyms

tattoo

1 American  
[ta-too] / tæˈtu /

noun

plural

tattoos
  1. a signal on a drum, bugle, or trumpet at night, for soldiers or sailors to go to their quarters.

  2. a knocking or strong pulsation.

    My heart beat a tattoo on my ribs.

  3. British. an outdoor military pageant or display.


tattoo 2 American  
[ta-too] / tæˈtu /

noun

plural

tattoos
  1. the act or practice of marking the skin with indelible patterns, pictures, legends, etc., by making punctures in it and inserting pigments.

  2. a pattern, picture, legend, etc., so made.


verb (used with object)

tattooed, tattooing
  1. to mark (the skin) with tattoos.

  2. to put (tattoos) on the skin.

tattoo 1 British  
/ tæˈtuː /

noun

  1. (formerly) a signal by drum or bugle ordering the military to return to their quarters

  2. a military display or pageant, usually at night

  3. any similar beating on a drum, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tattoo 2 British  
/ tæˈtuː /

verb

  1. to make (pictures or designs) on (the skin) by pricking and staining with indelible colours

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a design made by this process

  2. the practice of tattooing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • tattooer noun
  • tattooist noun
  • untattooed adjective

Etymology

Origin of tattoo1

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier taptoo, from Dutch taptoe, literally, “shut tap,” from tap “spigot, tap” + toe “closed, shut”; cognate with tap 2 ( def. ), to ( def. )

Origin of tattoo2

First recorded in 1760–70; from Marquesan tatu; replacing tattow, from Tahitian tatau

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.

At the weekly gathering, which features a food vendor, cocktails, tattoo artists and DJs, you can “competitively play chess, learn the game, meet new friends or mingle as a single person,” Thompson shares.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

If you get a stud in your navel or a little tattoo on your ankle, you aren’t likely to look back later and kick yourself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

"Insects and arachnids are more than objects of fear," says Walsh, who sports a beautiful spider tattoo on his arm.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

"It's been business as usual for us, we stay calm," said the smiling waitress, an octopus tattoo curling up her forearm.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

The man with the dragon tattoo cocked his head in interest, while the old one tapped his ring-adorned fingers against his cup, which I was now certain was in fact made from a human skull.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros