TAUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does taut mean? 

• TAUT (adjective)
  The adjective TAUT has 2 senses:

1. pulled or drawn tight

2. subjected to great tension; stretched tight

  Familiarity information: TAUT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TAUT (adjective)

Comparative: tauter   
Superlative: tautest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pulled or drawn tight

Synonyms:

taut; tight

Context example:

a tight rope

Similar:

tense (taut or rigid; stretched tight)

Derivation:

tautness (lack of movement or room for movement)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Subjected to great tension; stretched tight

Context example:

her nerves were taut as the strings of a bow

Similar:

tense (in or of a state of physical or nervous tension)

Derivation:

tautness (the physical condition of being stretched or strained)

 Context examples 

Then he stood upright while Hans drew the rope taut across the overhead branch.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

This would not do for a draw-knife, so he laid hold of the running part, hove taut, and made fast.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

They could barely keep the traces taut, and on the down grades just managed to keep out of the way of the sled.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The hawser was as taut as a bowstring, and the current so strong she pulled upon her anchor.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Lip-lip might face the pack, but he could not face that whip, and all that was left him to do was to keep his long rope taut and his flanks ahead of the teeth of his mates.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The boat-puller obeyed, taking a turn around the little forward thwart and paying the line as it jerked taut.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

So far so good, but it next occurred to my recollection that a taut hawser, suddenly cut, is a thing as dangerous as a kicking horse.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The thong grew taut.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

A derrick-boom, rigged to the foremast, had accomplished this; and several days more found all stays and shrouds in place, and everything set up taut.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Silver, said the other man—and I observed he was not only red in the face, but spoke as hoarse as a crow, and his voice shook too, like a taut rope—Silver, says he, you're old, and you're honest, or has the name for it; and you've money too, which lots of poor sailors hasn't; and you're brave, or I'm mistook.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)