tang

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈtaŋ 

1

a

: a sharp distinctive often lingering flavor

b

: a pungent odor

c

: something having the effect of a tang (as in stimulation of the senses)

the tang of the autumn air

add tang to your writing

2

a

: a faint suggestion : trace

my comment held a tang of sarcasm

b

: a distinguishing characteristic that sets apart or gives a special individuality

3

: a projecting shank, prong, fang, or tongue (as on a knife, file, or sword) to connect with the handle

4

: any of various surgeonfishes compare blue tang

tanged

ˈtaŋd 

adjective

tang

2 of 5

verb (1)

tanged; tanging; tangs

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with a tang

2

: to affect with a tang

tang

3 of 5

verb (2)

tanged; tanging; tangs

: clang, ring

tang

4 of 5

noun (2)

: a sharp twanging sound

Tang

5 of 5

noun (3)

ˈtäŋ 

variants or T'ang

: a Chinese dynasty dated a.d. 618–907 and marked by wide contacts with other cultures and by the development of printing and the flourishing of poetry and art

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• breath
• flicker
• glimmer
• hint
• suggestion
• touch
• trace
• whiff

Examples of tang in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The loops take you up sharp hillsides, through pastures, and into hamlets where the air carries a barnyard tang. —Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024

The tang of the apple cider combined with the Worcestershire balances out the sweetness from ketchup and brown sugar. —Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2024

Delicate fresh fruit with tropical tones or peach, pineapple and a little pink grapefruit tang. —Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

The tang of the cream cheese icing is enhanced by the addition of buttermilk to the dough—our Southern spin on the recipe. —Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 24 Jan. 2024

Think of a spritz of lime over a coconut curry, the jolt of vinegar in a creamy dressing, or the tang from buttermilk in pancake batter. —Zola Gregory, Bon Appétit, 20 Jan. 2024

The handle is comprised of black and green Micarta slabs attached to the tang. —Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024

Buttermilk and sour cream provide a subtle tang, cutting the sugar. —Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023

Although the instrument has an integral role in the orchestral ecosystem—every ensemble tunes to its piercing A—the sweet-and-sour tang of its sound limits its popularity as a solo voice, particularly in comparison with the mellifluousness of the flute or the clarinet. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse tangi point of land, tang

Verb (2)

imitative

Noun (3)

Chinese (Beijing) Táng

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb (1)

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1556, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1686, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1669, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tang

• blue tang

Kids Definition

tang

noun

ˈtaŋ

1

: a sharp often lingering flavor

2

: a sharp odor