n., adj., & v.
n. 1 a brown skin colour resulting from exposure to ultraviolet light. 2 a yellowish-brown colour. 3 bark, esp. of oak, bruised and used to tan hides. 4 (in full spent tan) tan from which the tannic acid has been extracted, used for covering roads etc.
adj. yellowish-brown.
v. (tanned, tanning) 1 tr. & intr. make or become brown by exposure to ultraviolet light. 2 tr. convert (raw hide) into leather by soaking in a liquid containing tannic acid or by the use of mineral salts etc. 3 tr. sl. beat, thrash. tannable adj. tanning n. tannish adj.
[ OE tannian, prob. f. med.L tanare, tannare, perh. f. Celtic ]