Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

tang

/ˈtæŋ/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about tang at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A refreshingly sharp aroma or flavor.
a tang of citrus
A strong or offensive taste; especially, a taste of something extraneous to the thing itself.
a tang of cellar
A sharp, specific flavor or tinge.
a tang of pedantry

noun

A sharp, twanging sound; an unpleasant tone; a twang.

verb

To strike two metal objects together loudly in order to persuade a swarm of honeybees to land so it may be captured by the beekeeper.
To make a ringing sound; to ring.

noun

knotted wrack, Ascophyllum nodosum (coarse blackish seaweed)

Origin

From Middle English tange, variant of tonge (“tongs, fang”), from Old Norse tangi (“pointed metal tool”), perhaps related to Old Norse tunga (“tongue”). But see also Middle Dutch tanger (“sharp, tart, pinching”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word