taut

1 of 3

adjective

ˈtȯt 

1

a

: having no give or slack : tightly drawn

a taut rope

b

: high-strung, tense

taut nerves

2

a

: kept in proper order or condition

a taut ship

b(1)

: not loose or flabby

taut skin

(2)

: marked by economy of structure and detail

a taut story

tautly adverb

tautness noun

taut

2 of 3

verb

tauted; tauting; tauts

transitive verb

Scotland

: mat, tangle

taut-

3 of 3

combining form

variants or tauto-

: same

tautomerism

tautonym

Synonyms

Adjective

• rigid
• tense
• tight

Examples of taut in a Sentence

Adjective

The rope was drawn taut.

The book is a taut thriller.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Far more dynamic live than on the studio recordings, the taut rhythmic structures of the songs accentuated the struggles with faith, forgiveness and optimism the singer explored via bruised, bloodied narratives. —Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2024

Soon, Elisabeth has a clone, Sue (Margaret Qualley), young and taut. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024

To use, just turn on and gently run the device over fabric using gentle, circular movements keeping the fabric flat and taut. —Christina Pérez, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2024

Where to watch The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Netflix Captain Phillips (2013) Another wonderful, impossibly taut Paul Greengrass thriller, this one charts the 2008 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama shipping vessel by Somali pirates. —EW.com, 14 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English tought, perhaps from tought, toughth fierce, tough, alteration of tough tough

Verb

origin unknown

Combining form

Late Latin, from Greek, from tauto the same, contraction of to auto

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(1)

Verb

1721, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

taut

adjective

ˈtȯt

1

a

: drawn to the limit : not slack

taut rope

b

: high-strung, tense

taut nerves

2

: kept in proper order or condition

a taut ship

tautly adverb

tautness noun