taut

¹taut

adj \ˈtȯt\

Definition of TAUT

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

Examples of TAUT

1. The rope was drawn taut.
2. The book is a taut thriller.

Origin of TAUT

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TAUT

Synonyms: rigid, tense, tight

Antonyms: lax, loose, slack

Related Words: firm, inflexible, stiff, tightened, unrelaxed, unyielding

Near Antonyms: drooping, droopy, flaccid, floppy, hanging, lank, limp, loosened, relaxed, sagging, slackened, yielding; elastic, flexible, pliant, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple

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Rhymes with TAUT

aught, bought, caught, dot, fraught, ghat, lotte, naught, ought, thought, wrought