tattoo
Tattoo (noun) means a permanent design made on the skin by injecting ink with a needle. Example: “She got a small tattoo of a swallow on her wrist.”
How to Use Tattoo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA permanent skin marking made with ink and needle — unrelated in origin to the military-parade sense, which is a coincidental homonym.
The military "tattoo" (a drum signal or parade) comes from a completely different root (Dutch taptoe) than the skin-marking sense, despite the identical spelling.
Word Forms
tattooed past tense, tattooed past tense, tattoos plural, tattooes plural, tattoos plural, tattoos plural, tattoos singular, tattoos singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She got a small _____ of a swallow on her wrist.
Etymology
Borrowed via English sailors from a Polynesian word (Samoan tatau), which itself meant both "to strike" and "tattoo," reflecting how the ink was traditionally tapped into the skin.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tattoo
See all rhymes for tattoo →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “tattoo” mean?
The word “tattoo” means a permanent design made on the skin by injecting ink with a needle. In plain terms, a permanent skin marking made with ink and needle — unrelated in origin to the military-parade sense, which is a coincidental homonym.
How do you pronounce “tattoo”?
“Tattoo” is pronounced ta-TOO ([tʰæˈtʰʉw] in IPA).
How do you use “tattoo” in a sentence?
Here is “tattoo” used in a sentence: “She got a small tattoo of a swallow on her wrist.”
What part of speech is “tattoo”?
Depending on how it is used, “tattoo” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “tattoo” a common word?
“Tattoo” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “tattoo” have?
“Tattoo” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a permanent design made on the skin by injecting ink with a needle.
What is the plural of tattoo?
The plural of "tattoo" is "tattoos," formed simply by adding -s. It does not take an apostrophe, so "three tattoos" is correct and "three tattoo's" is not.
What is the difference between a tattoo and a temporary tattoo?
A tattoo is a permanent design made by injecting ink under the skin with a needle. A temporary tattoo sits only on the surface of the skin and washes or wears off after a short time.
What is the difference between tattoo as a noun and as a verb?
As a noun, a "tattoo" is the permanent inked design itself, as in "she has a tattoo." As a verb, to "tattoo" is the act of marking someone's skin with such a design, as in "the artist tattooed his arm."
What words commonly go with tattoo?
Common phrases include "get a tattoo," "tattoo artist," and "tattoo parlor." People also speak of a "tattoo design" or "tattoo removal" when talking about the process before and after.
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