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 of tan

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

Her designs are crafted in France using leather farmed in France and tanned in Italy, and are constructed entirely without stitching, using an innovative system of folding, assembly and rivets. — Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Coco & Eve’s face tanning mist offers a way to achieve a natural, radiant glow entirely on her own terms, without sun exposure, tanning beds, or heavy makeup. — Ethan Stone october 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Kitty-corner from the park is 16th Street Baptist Church, the city's first Black congregation, housed in a thick tan brick building of Romanesque-Byzantine design, which became a center for civil rights meetings. — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

Burberry check Meanwhile, in the 1920s Burberry introduced its signature check, comprising interlocking black, white, and red lines on a tan ground, as a lining for its coats. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

Jeong carried a Noé from the same collaboration, also done in cream and tan. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026

She was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants and tan boots, and carried a backpack of unknown color, police said. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026

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