Skip to main content

tautstretched or pulled tight; not slack

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: stretched or pulled tight; not slack

Pronunciation (IPA): /tɔːt/

Example Sentences

  • The circus performer walked across the taut wire like it was a sidewalk.
  • After the horror movie, everyone's nerves were taut as guitar strings.
  • The ship's sails were taut in the strong wind.

taut

ADJECTIVE

[/tɔːt/]

stretched or pulled tight; not slack

The tightrope walker steps onto the taut rope high above the circus crowd.
💡 Concept

The tightrope walker steps onto the taut rope high above the circus crowd.

TAU stretched tight — totally taut!
🧠 Mnemonic

TAU stretched tight — totally taut!

What I taught must be fought - stay taut!
🎵 Rhyme

What I taught must be fought - stay taut!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/tɔːt/
🇬🇧 UK/tɔːt/

🌳Etymology

Roottaut

Origin

From Middle English 'taut,' possibly from Old Norse 'þéttr' meaning 'thick' or 'dense,' which came to mean 'tight' or 'tense.' The word may also be influenced by Old French 'tout' meaning 'all' or 'entire,' referring to something completely drawn tight.

Breakdown

taut (single morpheme, no further breakdown) - a simple adjective with roots in Old Norse/Germanic languages, not composed of separable morphemes in English

🎵Rhyme

taughtcaughtboughtfoughtthought
taught
caught
bought
fought
thought

🔗Collocations

taut rope
taut muscles
taut nerves
taut expression
pull taut
stretch taut
taut skin

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The circus performer walked across the taut wire like it was a sidewalk.

😄 Fun example

After the horror movie, everyone's nerves were taut as guitar strings.

The ship's sails were taut in the strong wind.

😄 Fun example

My grandmother's face cream promises to keep skin taut until you're 90.

The construction worker kept the safety line taut at all times.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

tighttenserigidstretchedstrained

Antonyms

looseslackrelaxed

Related

tensionstretchstrainrigidfirm

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.