English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

tan

tan
Quiz me More like this

Tan (noun) means a yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun. Example: “The chair's leather was a soft tan that matched the rug.”

noun
1
A yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun.
"The chair's leather was a soft tan that matched the rug."
"She came back from the beach with a deep tan."
"He painted the fence a warm tan."
adj
1
Yellowish-brown in colour, or having skin darkened by the sun.
"She picked a tan coat that went with everything in her wardrobe."
"He wore tan trousers with a navy blazer."
"Her tan arms stood out against the white dress."
verb
1
To develop a darker skin tone from sun exposure, or to turn animal hide into leather using tannic acid.
"Be careful not to tan for too long without sunscreen on a hot day."
"She tans easily every summer."
"The hides are tanned before being cut into leather."

How to use tan

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA light brown colour — usually either sun-browned skin or the shade of leather and similar materials.

Common mistake

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.

Common pairings
get a tan a deep tan tan leather tan lines
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like tan.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
tans
Third person singular
tans
Past tense
tanned
Comparative
tanner
Superlative
tannest
Test yourself on “tan” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The chair's leather was a soft _____ that matched the rug.

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.

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

View more →
khaki fawn camel buff bronzed sandy topaz suntan tangent bronze

Related words

built brown fan yellow orange Alexander sexy Polish

Rhymes for tan

stan
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.

People also searched

built brown fan yellow orange Alexander sexy Polish