What is tan? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of tan in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of tan

tanverb

làn da rám nắng

/tæn//tæn/

Where does the word tan come from?

The word "tan" has a fascinating origin. It comes from the 16th-century Spanish word "tano," which means "to dry" or "to parch." This is because skin that's been exposed to the sun becomes dry, leathery, and brown, resembling the texture of dried leather. The Spanish word "tano" is derived from the Latin word "tannare," which means "to tan" or "to dry." This Latin word is also the source of the English word "tannin," a type of polyphenol found in plants that's used to tan leather. As European sailors and explorers spent more time at sea, their skin became darker due to sun exposure, leading to the adoption of the term "tan" to describe this discoloration. Today, the word "tan" is used globally to describe the sun-kissed skin that results from exposure to the sun's rays.

Vocabulary summary tan

typenoun

meaningbark, bark belongs to da

examplethis leather tans easily

meaningbrown

meaningtan

typeadjective

meaningbrown

examplethis leather tans easily

meaningtan

Example of vocabulary tannamespace

meaning

if a person or their skin tans or is tanned, they become brown as a result of spending time in the sun

  • My skin tans really easily.
  • She tanned easily, despite her fair hair.
  • You want your skin to tan evenly.
  • Sarah's skin turned a subtle tan after spending a week on the beach in Hawaii.
  • The sunburn on Alex's shoulders gradually faded into a beautiful, golden tan.
meaning

to make animal skin into leather by treating it with chemicals

Idioms of vocabulary tan

have/tan somebody’s hide
(old-fashioned, informal or humorous)to punish somebody severely

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