tan

1 of 4

verb

ˈtan 

tanned; tanning

transitive verb

1

: to make (skin) tan especially by exposure to the sun

2

a

: to convert (hide) into leather by treatment with an infusion of tannin-rich bark or other agent of similar effect

b

: to convert (protein) to leather or a similar substance

3

: thrash, whip

intransitive verb

: to get or become tan

tan

2 of 4

adjective

tanner; tannest

1

: of the color tan

2

: of, relating to, or used for tan or tanning

tan

3 of 4

noun

1

: a brown color imparted to the skin especially by exposure to the sun

2

: a light yellowish brown

3

tans plural : tan-colored articles of clothing

4

: a tanning material or its active agent (such as tannin)

tan

4 of 4

abbreviation

tangent

Synonyms

Verb

• lash
• whip
• leather
• whale
• slash

Examples of tan in a Sentence

Verb

Grandpa told us that when he was a kid, if he misbehaved at all, his father would tan his backside with a belt

a time when children were routinely tanned for misbehavior

Adjective

I can't believe how tan she is!

a horse with tan markings

Noun

I got a tan on my vacation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law’s interview Saturday on her Fox News show with Charlamagne Tha God has really gotten under POTUS’ thin and artificially tanned skin – and The Breakfast Club co-host is lovin’ it. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2025

While all of their leather comes from U.S. sources, some is tanned in Japan and then reimported to the U.S. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2025

Adjective

Carpet beetle larvae are usually about 1/8-inch long, tan, and covered in hairy bristles. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 30 July 2025

Elsewhere, there's a mid-step alloy frame in two size options for easy access, the ebike rolls on puncture-resistant 700c x 38-mm tan-colored road tires, and stopping power is provided by hydraulic disc brakes rocking 180-mm rotors. —Paul Ridden july 22, New Atlas, 22 July 2025

Noun

For the perfect lip to match your summer tan, DIBS is a wonderful option. —Sarah Boyd, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025

Each shade of tan layered on the walls represents a different era of Earth's transformation. —Ruby Grisin, The Courier-Journal, 24 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English tannen, from Anglo-French tanner, from Medieval Latin tannare, from tanum, tannum tanbark

Noun

French, tanbark, from Old French, from Medieval Latin tanum

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Adjective

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing tan

• black and tan
• black-and-tan coonhound
• fan-tan
• spray tan
• tan line
• tan oak
• tan someone's hide

Rhymes for tan

• an
• ban
• bran
• can
• cann
• clan
• duan
• fan
• flan
• gran
• jann
• klan

Kids Definition

tan

1 of 3 verb

ˈtan 

tanned; tanning

1

: to change hide into leather especially by soaking in a tannin solution

2

: to make or become tan or brown especially by exposing to the sun

3

: thrash sense 2a, whip

tan

2 of 3 adjective

tanner; tannest

: of the color tan

tan

3 of 3 noun

1

: a brown color given to the skin especially by exposure to the sun

2

: a light yellowish brown

tannish

ˈtan-ish

adjective

Medical Definition

tan

1 of 2 verb

ˈtan 

tanned; tanning

transitive verb

: to make (skin) tan especially by exposure to the sun

intransitive verb

: to get or become tanned

tan

2 of 2 noun

: a brown color imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun or wind