Main Entry: ¹taut

Pronunciation: \ˈtȯt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English tought, perhaps from tought, toughth fierce, tough, alteration of tough tough

Date: 14th century

1 a : having no give or slack : tightly drawn <a taut rope> b : high-strung, tense <taut nerves>
2 a : kept in proper order or condition <a taut ship> b (1) : not loose or flabby <taut muscles> (2) : marked by economy of structure and detail <a taut story>

— taut·ly adverb

— taut·ness noun