tattoo — a design made on the skin by inserting pigment into punctures
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a design made on the skin by inserting pigment into punctures
Pronunciation (IPA): /təˈtu/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother nearly fainted when I showed her my new butterfly tattoo.
- The tattoo artist spent three hours creating the intricate design.
- He regretted tattooing his ex-girlfriend's name on his chest.
tattoo
NOUN[/təˈtu/]
a design made on the skin by inserting pigment into punctures
The artist inks a delicate rose tattoo onto her client's shoulder.
Break the taboo with bamboo tattoo!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Polynesian 'tatau', meaning 'to strike' or 'to mark'. It entered English in the 18th century when Captain Cook's expedition to Tahiti encountered indigenous peoples bearing intricate marked patterns on their bodies, adopting the Polynesian term to describe the practice.
Breakdown
tatau (Polynesian: to strike, to mark) — the root word directly adopted into English to describe the practice of marking the skin with permanent designs.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother nearly fainted when I showed her my new butterfly tattoo.”
“The tattoo artist spent three hours creating the intricate design.”
“He regretted tattooing his ex-girlfriend's name on his chest.”
“Many celebrities have meaningful tattoos that tell their life stories.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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