tan

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verb

ˈtan

tanned; tanning

Synonyms of tan next

transitive verb

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

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

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

: thrash, whip

intransitive verb

: to get or become tan

tan

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adjective

tanner; tannest

: of the color tan

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

tan

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noun

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

: a light yellowish brown

tans plural : tan-colored articles of clothing

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

tan

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Example Sentences

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

Beavers are skinned up the belly in what’s called an open style, and pelts can be sold at auction or tanned to keep. —

Joseph Biebert, Outdoor Life, 3 Apr. 2023 His arms and face were tanned from perpetually toiling in the sun, his fingers callused. —

Selene Rivera, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2023 Things take a supernatural turn when suddenly her mother appears in the flesh — healthy, sun-tanned and thirty years old. —

Matt Donnelly, Variety, 30 Mar. 2023 In addition to some really beautiful island sights, Dua Lipa was looking totally toned, tanned, and confident in three separate bikini looks. —

Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 23 Mar. 2023 For best results, Hurkman recommends mixing four to six tanning drops into your favorite moisturizer. —

Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 20 Mar. 2023 Not that there’s any shortage of sun-tanning spaces. —

Howard Walker, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2023 What's more, this specific material is Leather Working Group (LWG) certified, which means that it's been tanned in an environmentally responsible way. —

Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2023 An authentic Torah scroll is an intricate masterpiece of labor and skill, comprising between 62 and 84 sheets of parchment that are cured, tanned, scraped and prepared according to exact specifications mandated by Jewish law. —

Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2023

Adjective

The tan, golden-eyed lion has been taken out of the exhibit to be closely monitored by staff and veterinary teams, Zoo New England said in a statement. —

Claire Law, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2023 The American Ranch Rifle has a tan synthetic stock and is chambered in 5.56 NATO, 7.62×39, 6.5 Grendel, 350 Legend, and 450 Bushmaster. —

Michael Dickerson, Outdoor Life, 10 Apr. 2023 Stewart wore a tan sweater and cream pants, while Wonders wore head-to-toe black. —

Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2023 Justin wore a gray sweatshirt, loose-fitting khaki pants, tan Vans sneakers, and a purple beanie. —

Briannah Rivera, Seventeen, 7 Apr. 2023 The inside is lined with wool felt to keep your machine scratch-free, and the black or tan leather exudes luxury. —

WIRED, 25 Mar. 2023 The two were photographed out shopping in the city, both wearing tan and black ensembles. —

Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 23 Mar. 2023 In addition to the forest green model being offered for that lowest price, there are also tan, orange, and black options for a little more. —

Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 3 Mar. 2023 Everyone had to be really tan. —

Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 4 May 2021

Noun

To personalize the utilitarian look, Nadine layered on vintage Yves Saint Laurent necklaces from her personal archive, a dainty Chanel pearl AirPods chain, and a slim Hermès Collier de Chien bracelet while carrying a hefty tan Birkin. —

Jennifer Barthole, ELLE, 17 May 2023 The article argued that Irish women using fake tan represented cultural appropriation. —

Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 16 May 2023 To complete their looks, Jenner wore a white tank top and tan, furry mini skirt while her new flame wore black trousers, a white button-up, a leather jacket and a bolo tie. —

Zizi Strater, Peoplemag, 15 May 2023 Choose from classic neutrals, including tans and grays, or add a subtle pop of color with blues and greens. —

Rena Behar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2023 Get their tan applicator mitt and apply a beautiful, even bronze layer to your body, with no spillover onto your palms. —

Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2023 On the aesthetics front, an assortment of neutral tones like golden tans, light grays, and rich redwoods allows a Fiberon deck to act as the perfect blank canvases. —

Kelsey Mulvey, House Beautiful, 6 Apr. 2023 Apply two drops to your face and body for a subtle tan, four drops for a golden glow, or six drops for a deep bronze. —

Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 20 Mar. 2023 The other subjects include a few near-abstract nature scenes and an owl rendered in bold black lines overprinted with areas of arboreal brown and tan. —

Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.