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taut

 - 3 dictionary results

taut

  [tawt] ,
Use taut in a Sentence
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. tightly drawn; tense; not slack.
2. emotionally or mentally strained or tense: taut nerves.
3. in good order or condition; tidy; neat.
Origin:
1275–1325; earlier taught, ME tought; akin to tow 1

Related forms:
tautly, adverb
tautness, noun

Synonyms:
3. trim, trig, spruce, smart.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To taut
taut   (tôt)   
adj.   taut·er, taut·est

  1. Pulled or drawn tight; not slack. See Synonyms at tight.

  2. Strained; tense: nerves taut with anxiety.

    1. Kept in trim shape; neat and tidy.

    2. Marked by the efficient, sparing, or concise use of something, such as language or detail: a taut movie script.


[Middle English tohte, distended, perhaps ultimately from Old English togian, to drag; see tow1.]
taut'ly adv., taut'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

taut 
c.1325, tohte, possibly from tog-, pp. stem of O.E. teon "to pull, drag," from P.Gmc. *tugn, from PIE *deuk- "to lead" (see duke).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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