tan

A darker colour your skin gets after spending time in the sun or under similar lights.

• He has a tan.
• My tan faded after the holiday.
• She got a deep tan during the summer.

Similar words: suntan

Common phrases: get a tan, deep tan, summer tan

A light brown colour with a little yellow in it.

• I chose tan for the walls.
• The bag comes in black or tan.
• We mixed yellow and brown to make tan.

Similar words: light brown

Common phrases: shade of tan, tan and cream, light tan

Having skin made darker by sunlight or by a treatment that produces a similar effect.

• You look tan today.
• His arms were tan after weeks outdoors.
• Her face was much more tan than mine.

Similar words: tanned, sun-browned

Opposites: pale

Common phrases: look tan, tan skin, tan arms

Light brown with a little yellow in it.

• He wore tan shoes.
• She bought a tan leather bag.
• Do these tan trousers match my jacket?

Similar words: light brown

Common phrases: tan shoes, tan leather, tan coat

To spend time in the sun to make your skin darker.

• We tan by the pool.
• She tanned on the beach all afternoon.
• Do you like to tan during your summer holidays?

Similar words: sunbathe

Common phrases: tan on holiday, tan by the pool

If your skin does this, it becomes darker because of sunlight.

• My skin tans easily.
• His arms tanned during the summer.
• Do you tan or burn in strong sunlight?

Similar words: brown

Common phrases: tan easily, tan in summer

To treat animal skin so that it becomes leather.

• They tan hides here.
• The workers tanned the skins using plant chemicals.
• How long does it take to tan a cowhide?

Common phrases: tan a hide, tan animal skins

To use a special bed with lamps to make your skin darker.

• She tans at a salon.
• He tanned indoors before his holiday.
• Do people still tan using these beds?

Common phrases: tan indoors, tan at a salon