tattoo

1 of 4

noun (1)

tat·​too ta-ˈtü 

plural tattoos

1

: a mark, figure, design, or word intentionally fixed or placed on the skin:

a

: one that is indelible and created by insertion of pigment under the skin

b

: one that is temporarily applied to the skin, resembles a permanent tattoo, and usually lasts for a few days to several weeks

c

: one that is composed of scar tissue intentionally created by cutting, abrading, or burning the skin

2

: the act of tattooing : the fact of being tattooed

tattoo

2 of 4

verb (1)

tattooed; tattooing; tattoos

transitive verb

1

: to mark the skin with (a tattoo)

tattooed a flag on his chest

2

: to mark or color (the skin) with tattoos

tattooer noun

tattooist

ta-ˈtü-ist 

noun

tattoo

3 of 4

noun (2)

plural tattoos

1

: a rapid rhythmic rapping

2

a

: a call sounded shortly before taps as notice to go to quarters

b

: outdoor military exercise given by troops as evening entertainment

tattoo

4 of 4

verb (2)

tattooed; tattooing; tattoos

transitive verb

1

: to beat or rap rhythmically on : drum on

2

baseball, informal

a

: to hit (a pitched ball) very hard

An RBI single followed, and then Rougned Odor tattooed the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer.

—Derrick Goold

b

: to get many hits and runs against (a pitcher)

The Twins tattooed him for four more in the third …

—Brian Murphy

intransitive verb

: to give a series of rhythmic taps

Did you know?

The less common noun tattoo comes from the Dutch colloquialism "tap toe," which can be translated as "turn off the tap," though it was most often used to mean something like "Shut up! Cease!" The Dutch began using the word taptoe for a drum beat, and then English speakers borrowed the term (changing it slightly, to taptoo and, eventually, to tattoo). It was used especially by the military to name a drum beat (or possibly a bugle call) that signaled the day's end. This taptoo most likely led to our taps, a term for the final bugle call at night in the military.

Examples of tattoo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Going to a licensed tattoo artist and following aftercare instructions are important precautions, but every tattoo carries some risk. —Brendan Camp, Verywell Health, 28 June 2025

When the tattoo artist was finished and wiped the tattoo down — a common practice, as tattoos can ooze blood and ink — Washburn said the tattoo leaked more than what’s usually expected. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 27 June 2025

Verb

This highlights the importance of screening individuals with autoimmune conditions before tattooing. —Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

Two of his actors are missing limbs and nearly all are flamboyantly tattooed. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Tahitian tatau, noun, tattoo

Noun (2)

alteration of earlier taptoo, from Dutch taptoe, from the phrase tap toe! taps shut!

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (1)

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

circa 1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1780, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing tattoo

• tattoo parlor

Rhymes for tattoo

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

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Kids Definition

tattoo

1 of 3 noun

tat·​too ta-ˈtü 

1

: a call sounded shortly before taps as notice to go to quarters

2

: a rapid rhythmic rapping

tattoo

2 of 3 verb

: to mark or color the skin with a tattoo

tattoo

3 of 3 noun

: a mark or figure fixed upon the body by using a needle to put color under the skin

Etymology

Noun

from earlier taptoo "a call to go to quarters for the night," from Dutch taptoe (same meaning), from the phrase tap toe! "taps shut!," used as a signal that the taps, or faucets, on the wine casks in a barroom were closed for the night

Verb

from a word in the Polynesian language of Tahiti tatau (noun) "the act of marking or coloring the skin"

Medical Definition

tattoo

1 of 2 transitive verb

tat·​too ta-ˈtü 

: to mark or color (the skin) with tattoos

tattoo

2 of 2 noun

plural tattoos

: an indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by insertion of pigment under the skin or by production of scars