tanning

Pluraltannings (some meanings)

1. 1
   noununcountable

   The process of acquiring a tan, either through exposure to the sun or by artificial means such as beds and sprays.

   Dermatologists warn that excessive tanning raises the risk of skin cancer.

   Indoor tanning has declined as awareness of its dangers has grown.

   Similarsunbathing

2. 2
   noununcountable

   The process of turning raw animal hides, which rot easily, into leather, which resists decay.

   Vegetable tanning uses plant extracts and can take several weeks to complete.

   Workers at the tannery oversee every stage of tanning, from soaking to drying.

   Similarcuring

3. 3
   verb

   Present participle of tan.

   The lifeguards are tanning between their shifts on the sand.

   They are tanning the hides using bark from local oak trees.

   Note

   The -ing form doubles the final n of tan and carries every sense of the verb. With the sun it can stand alone (they spent the afternoon tanning) or take an object (tanning their backs). Hides are tanned, and so, informally, is a child who is spanked. In Multicultural London English slang the verb can also mean to shoot, so the setting decides which reading a listener hears.

4. 4
   nouncolloquialcountable

   A spanking, typically delivered as a punishment.

   Dad gave him a good tanning for breaking the window.

   She threatened the boys with a tanning if they didn't settle down.

   Similarspanking, thrashing, hiding, beating, whipping

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