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

Before then, it was thought that indoor tanners were about 75% percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors, and that just one session in a tanning bed could increase the risk by 20 percent. —Tori Crowther, Allure, 19 Mar. 2026

Tessum, 36, tall, lean, and tanned, already has two world records for trips to the North Pole. —Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026

Adjective

The grainy technique is particularly visible in Il grand letto azzurro (1965), featured in the Lévy Gorvy Dayan show, where close inspection of the teal bedspread reveals a tan floral pattern made up of non-pigmented sand. —Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026

Sporting a tan fedora and stuffing his hands in his pockets, Weir has a half smile that’s always primed for a nerdy joke. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

Noun

Flowers are not spectacular but attractive enough with pale mauve and tan petals. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026

The best self-tan lotions for fair skin can be surprisingly hard to find. —Daley Quinn, Glamour, 11 Mar. 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