Pronunciation: /tæn/

Definitions of tan

noun a light brown color of skin obtained by exposure to the sun

Example Sentences

A1 I like to lay out in the sun to get a tan.

A2 She applied sunscreen to avoid getting a sunburn while tanning.

B1 After vacation, her tan started to fade.

B2 He spent hours at the beach trying to achieve the perfect tan.

C1 The salon offered spray tans for those who preferred not to sunbathe.

C2 Her tan from the tropical vacation made her look like a bronzed goddess.

adjective of a light brown color

Example Sentences

A1 She has a tan complexion from spending hours in the sun.

A2 After a week at the beach, he came back with a tan that made him look healthier.

B1 I prefer to wear light colors to show off my tan skin.

B2 The tan leather jacket she wore added a touch of sophistication to her outfit.

C1 His tan suede shoes were the perfect complement to his tailored suit.

C2 The tan walls in the living room gave the space a warm and inviting feel.

Examples of tan in a Sentence

formal She achieved a golden tan after spending a week at the beach.

informal I need to work on my tan before summer starts.

slang I'm going to lay out and catch some rays to get a sick tan.

figurative His lies were like a fake tan, trying to cover up the truth but ultimately failing.

Grammatical Forms of tan

past tense

tanned

plural

tans

comparative

tanner

superlative

tannest

present tense

tan

future tense

will tan

perfect tense

have tanned

continuous tense

is tanning

singular

tan

positive degree

tan

infinitive

to tan

gerund

tanning

participle

tanned

Origin and Evolution of tan

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'tan' originated from the Old English word 'tannian' which means 'to convert hide into leather by steeping it in tannin'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'tan' evolved to also refer to the darkening of skin due to exposure to the sun, as well as the color associated with such darkening.