tan
Tan (noun) means a yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun. Example: “She came back from the beach with a deep tan.”
How to Use Tan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA light brown colour — usually either sun-browned skin or the shade of leather and similar materials.
Don't confuse the skin-darkening verb ("to tan") with "to tan someone's hide," an old-fashioned informal phrase meaning to spank or beat someone — same word, very different meaning.
Word Forms
tanner comparative, tanned past tense, tanned past tense, tans plural, tans plural, tans plural, tans singular, tans singular, tannest superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She came back from the beach with a deep _____.
Etymology
From Old French tan, "tanbark" (the oak bark used to cure leather), tracing back to a Gaulish word for oak. The "get a suntan" meaning came later, from the browning effect of tanning leather.
Related Words
Rhymes for tan
See all rhymes for tan →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “tan” mean?
The word “tan” means a yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun. In plain terms, a light brown colour — usually either sun-browned skin or the shade of leather and similar materials.
How do you pronounce “tan”?
“Tan” is pronounced tan (/tæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “tan” in a sentence?
Here is “tan” used in a sentence: “She came back from the beach with a deep tan.”
What part of speech is “tan”?
Depending on how it is used, “tan” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “tan” come from?
The word “tan” comes from Old French. From Old French tan, "tanbark" (the oak bark used to cure leather), tracing back to a Gaulish word for oak. The "get a suntan" meaning came later, from the browning effect of tanning leather.
Is “tan” a common word?
“Tan” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “tan” have?
“Tan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun.
What is the difference between tan and beige?
Both are pale neutral shades, but tan is a yellowish-brown that reads noticeably darker and warmer, while beige is a lighter, creamier off-white. A classic leather satchel is typically tan; unbleached fabric is closer to beige.
How do you spell the past tense of tan?
The past tense is tanned and the -ing form is tanning: the final n doubles because tan ends in a short vowel followed by a single consonant. "Taned" and "taning" are misspellings.
What is the difference between a tan and sunburn?
A tan is the gradual darkening of skin tone after time in the sun. Sunburn is damage from overexposure, leaving the skin red and sore rather than evenly darkened.