Dictionary.com

taut

[ tawt ]
/ tɔt /
See synonyms for: taut / tautness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, taut·er, taut·est.

tightly drawn; tense; not slack.
emotionally or mentally strained or tense: taut nerves.
in good order or condition; tidy; neat.

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Origin of taut

1275–1325; earlier taught,Middle English tought; akin to tow1

OTHER WORDS FROM taut

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH taut

taught, taut , taunt
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to taut

tense, close, firm, snug, stiff, strained, trim, unyielding, flexed, stressed, stretched

Example sentences from the Web for taut

British Dictionary definitions for taut

taut
/ (tɔːt) /

adjective

tightly stretched; tense
showing nervous strain; stressed
mainly nautical in good order; neat

Derived forms of taut

tautly, adverbtautness, noun

Word Origin for taut

C14 tought; probably related to Old English togian to tow 1
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