tanning

1 of 2

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

tanning

2 of 2

present participle of tan entry 1

Examples of tanning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This doesn’t just apply to the growing phase for natural fibers like wool, leather and cotton, but also to the production processes that follow, including washing, dyeing and tanning. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026

She was arrested and charged with second-degree child endangerment after her daughter reportedly arrived at school with sunburns, sparking a media frenzy over Krentcil's extreme tanning habits and parenting. — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Her car was found the following day with the decal for her tanning business scraped off the window, and her cellphone was recovered from a lake south of Orlando, according to police. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Bethany and David recognized that shift early and have built a brand that makes self-tanning feel much more like modern prestige skin care. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing tanning

• tanning bed
• tanning booth

Rhymes for tanning

• panning
• 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