taut

Alternative forms

• taght, tacht (Scotland)

Etymology

From Middle English taught, toȝt (“tight, distended”), probably past participle of towen, toȝen (“to tow, pull”). Cognate with Scots tacht (“taut”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• enPR: tôt, IPA^(key): /tɔːt/
• (cot–caught merger) enPR: tät, IPA^(key): /tɑt/
• Rhymes: -ɔːt
• Homophones: taught, tort (in non-rhotic accents), tot (with cot-caught merger)

Adjective

taut (comparative tauter, superlative tautest)

1. Tight; under tension, as in a rope or bow string.
   • 1883: Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

     The hawser was as taut as a bowstring - so strong she pulled upon her anchor.

2. Experiencing stress or anxiety.
   • 1989 Faye Kellerman, The Quality of Mercy

     His outward appearance was calm, but inside he was very taut.

3. Containing only relevant parts, brief and controlled.
   • 2017 January 20, Annie Zaleski, “AFI sounds refreshed and rejuvenated on its 10th album, AFI (The Blood Album)”, in The Onion AV Club‎:

     Guitarist Jade Puget and vocalist Davey Havok have distilled AFI’s strengths (a ferocious, post-hardcore rhythmic backbone; goth-tinctured, post-punky guitars; and Havok’s desperate, dramatic croon) into 14 taut, hook-driven songs.

   • 2007 Milton C. Sernett, Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory and History

     Quick action and dialogue create a taut story, although it is illustration that shapes the characters.

4. Strong; uncompromising.
   • 2018 March 8, Eric Asimov, “Bubbles, With Joy: Pétillant Naturel’s Triumphant Return”, in The New York Times‎:

     Yet the 2016 Éxilé rosé from Lise et Bertrand Jousset in the Loire Valley, made mostly of gamay, was yeasty let light and lithe, while the 2016 Indigeno from Ancarani in Emilia-Romagna, made of trebbiano, was taut and earthy.

Anagrams

• Ta Tu, Ta-tu, tatu

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aʊ̯t

Verb

taut

1. Third-person singular present of tauen.
2. Second-person plural present of tauen.
3. Imperative plural of tauen.

Etymology

tau +‎ -t

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈtɒut]
• Hyphenation: ta‧ut

Noun

taut

1. accusative singular of tau

Etymology

Related to Finnish taltta.

Noun

taut

1. chisel