tattoo

/tæˈtu/

/ˈtætu/

Other forms: tattooed; tattooing; tattoos

A tattoo is a permanent design made on skin with a needle and ink. If you want a butterfly tattoo but you're scared of needles, you might settle for a temporary version.

The word tattoo is also a verb meaning stain the skin using needles and ink. It's probably a good idea to wait until you've been dating someone for more than a week before you tattoo their name on your arm. In music, a tattoo is continuous drumming, and a military tattoo is a drum or bugle that signals soldiers to return to their quarters at the end of the day.

Definitions of tattoo

1. noun

   a design on the skin made by tattooing
   type of:

   design, figure, pattern

   a decorative or artistic work
2. noun

   the practice of making a design on the skin by pricking and staining
   type of:

   decoration

   the act of decorating something (in the hope of making it more attractive)
3. verb

   stain (skin) with indelible color
   type of:

   stain

   color with a liquid dye or tint
4. noun

   a drumbeat or bugle call that signals the military to return to their quarters
   type of:

   bugle call

   a signal broadcast by the sound of a bugle

   drumbeat

   (military) the beating of a drum as a signal for lowering the flag at sundown