tan

adjective
UK: /tæn/
US: /tæn/

  1. Having skin that is darker than usual because you have been in the sun.

    1. She got a nice tan on vacation, spending time on the beach. [ ] [ ]
    2. He showed off his healthy tan after returning from his trip to Spain. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

bronze brown sunburn
tan verb

  1. To become brown from being in the sun.

    1. I like to tan in the summer months to get some color. [ ] [ ]
    2. If you tan easily, remember to use sunscreen to protect your skin. [ ] [ ]

  2. To make leather by treating animal skin with chemicals.

    1. My grandfather used to tan hides to make leather goods for the family. [ ] [ ]
    2. The tannery processes and tan the leather before it's used for shoes. [ ] [ ]
tan noun

  1. A light brown color.

    1. The walls were painted a soft tan color, creating a warm space. [ ] [ ]
    2. She bought a new tan coat to match her favorite pair of brown boots. [ ] [ ]

  2. A darkening of the skin caused by exposure to the sun.

    1. He wanted to get a tan before the party to look healthier. [ ] [ ]
    2. She enjoys her summer tan, but always applies sunscreen when outdoors. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "tan" is /tæn/ in British English and /tæn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "tan": bronze, brown, sunburn.

Example usage of "tan": "She got a nice tan on vacation, spending time on the beach.". More examples on the page.