tan

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

Synonyms of tan

• lash
• whip
• leather
• whale
• slash

Examples of tan in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Other myths, such as how tanning your perineum can boost energy and balance hormones, or how eliminating seed oils from your diet will protect you from the sun, have also fed into Gen Z tanning culture. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026

Arsenic also negated the need to tan skins of mammals and other animals. —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 18 May 2026

The rule drew more than 9,000 public comments from both physicians and cancer research organizations supporting its implementation and from tanning bed industry representatives and business owners opposed. —Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

Peters has also mentioned taking Melanotan II, which facilitates tanning without the use of sunlight. —Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tannen, from Anglo-French tanner, from Medieval Latin tannare, from tanum, tannum tanbark

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

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