TAN (tanned, tanner, tannest, tanning)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: tanned    , tanner    , tannest    , tanning   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tan mean? 

• TAN (noun)
  The noun TAN has 3 senses:

1. a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun

2. a light brown the color of topaz

3. ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle

  Familiarity information: TAN used as a noun is uncommon.

• TAN (adjective)
  The adjective TAN has 1 sense:

1. of a light yellowish-brown color

  Familiarity information: TAN used as an adjective is very rare.

• TAN (verb)
  The verb TAN has 2 senses:

1. treat skins and hides with tannic acid so as to convert them into leather

2. get a tan, from wind or sun

  Familiarity information: TAN used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

burn; sunburn; suntan; tan

Hypernyms ("tan" is a kind of...):

hyperpigmentation (unusual darkening of the skin)

Derivation:

tan (get a tan, from wind or sun)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A light brown the color of topaz

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

tan; topaz

Hypernyms ("tan" is a kind of...):

light brown (a brown that is light but unsaturated)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

tan; tangent

Hypernyms ("tan" is a kind of...):

circular function; trigonometric function (function of an angle expressed as a ratio of the length of the sides of right-angled triangle containing the angle)

• TAN (adjective)

Comparative: tanner   
Superlative: tannest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of a light yellowish-brown color

Similar:

chromatic (being or having or characterized by hue)

• TAN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tan    ... he / she / it tans   
Past simple: tanned   
Past participle: tanned   
-ing form: tanning   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Treat skins and hides with tannic acid so as to convert them into leather

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "tan" is one way to...):

convert (change the nature, purpose, or function of something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tan"):

bark (tan (a skin) with bark tannins)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

tanner (a craftsman who tans skins and hides)

tannery (workplace where skins and hides are tanned)

tanning (making leather from rawhide)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Get a tan, from wind or sun

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

bronze; tan

Hypernyms (to "tan" is one way to...):

color; colour; discolor; discolour (change color, often in an undesired manner)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tan"):

suntan (get a tan from being exposed to the sun)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

tan (a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun)

tanning (process in which skin pigmentation darkens as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light)

 Context examples 

A short, fairly hard coat of hair covers the body and comes in black and tan, liver and tan, and red and tawny.

(Bloodhound, NCI Thesaurus)

The short, hard coat is usually tri-color (black, white and tan), or bi-color with a white background.

(English Foxhound, NCI Thesaurus)

Individuals who frequently burn but are able to tan to a small degree after extended sun exposure.

(Fitzpatrick Skin Type II, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Their bodies were covered with fur and soft-tanned leather.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The coat comes in red, blue and tan, tan, and grizzle and tan.

(Border Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

The coat is colored in a merle or black/tan pattern.

(Catahoula Leopard Dog, NCI Thesaurus)

They can be many different colors, from tan to brown, gray to black, or even blue.

(Birthmarks, NIH)

The coat should be tan with black (or dark grizzle) markings.

(Airedale Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

The most common colors are solid red, black, blue, cinnamon and cream, but it can also come in tan, gray, or (rarely) white.

(Chow Chow, NCI Thesaurus)

Solid-colored Dachshunds may be tan or yellow.

(Dachshund, NCI Thesaurus)