tan [1]
n
1 the brown colour produced by the skin after intensive exposure to ultraviolet rays, esp. those of the sun
2 a light or moderate yellowish-brown colour
3 short for →
tanbark
vb , tans, tanning, tanned
4 to go brown or cause to go brown after exposure to ultraviolet rays
she tans easily
5 to convert (a skin or hide) into leather by treating it with a tanning agent, such as vegetable tannins, chromium salts, fish oils, or formaldehyde
6 tr
Slang to beat or flog
adj , tanner, tannest
7 of the colour tan
tan gloves
8 used in or relating to tanning
(Old English tannian (unattested as infinitive, attested as getanned, past participle), from Medieval Latin tannare, from tannum tanbark, perhaps of Celtic origin; compare Irish tana thin)
♦
tannable adj
♦
tannish adj