tanning

noun

tan·​ning ˈta-niŋ 

1

: a browning of the skin especially by exposure to sun

2

: the art or process by which a skin is tanned

3

: a sound spanking

4

: a natural darkening and hardening of the cuticle of an insect immediately after molting

Examples of tanning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His hobbies include playing traditional Native American lacrosse, participating in powwows and tanning deer hides. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025

The kind of products that may contain talc vary—such as mascaras, eye shadows, lip liners, foundation, tanning lotions and nail polish—according to the Environmental Working Group. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

The Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow used to have a hydrotherapy, bath-steam, room-tanning, booth-ski simulator, and a four-hole putting green with a sand trap. —Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Other popular combinations include CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin for growth hormone release, Melanotan II for tanning and libido, and GLP-1 analogues like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide for weight loss and metabolic health. —Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing tanning

• tanning bed
• tanning booth

Rhymes for tanning

• panning
• planing
• planning
• scanning
• spanning
• preplanning
• replanning
• scintiscanning

Kids Definition

tanning

noun

tan·​ning

ˈtan-iŋ

1

: the art or process by which an animal skin is tanned

2

: a browning of the skin especially by exposure to the sun

3

: a usually severe whipping

Medical Definition

tanning

noun

tan·​ning ˈtan-iŋ 

: a browning of the skin by exposure to sun