• (RP) enPR: tôt, IPA: /tɔːt/
• (GA) IPA: /tɔt/
• (cot-caught) enPR: tät, IPA: /tɑt/

taut (comparative tauter, superlative tautest)

1. (also, figuratively) Under tension, like a stretched#Adjective|stretched bowstring, rope#Noun|rope, or sail#Noun|sail; tight#Adjective|tight.

   Synonyms: nonslack, stretched, tense, tensioned, Thesaurus:taut

   Antonyms: untaut, Thesaurus:loose

   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Ebb-tide Runs”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, OCLC 702939134 ↗, part V (My Sea Adventure), page 185 ↗:

     The hawser#English|hawser was as taut as a bowstring, and the current so strong she pulled upon her anchor. All around the hull, in the blackness, the rippling current bubbled and chattered like a little mountain stream.

2. (of a body, muscles, etc.) Not flabby; firm#Adjective|firm, toned#Adjective|toned; (of a person) having a lean#Adjective|lean, strong body.
3. (of music, writing, etc.) Containing only relevant part#Noun|parts; brief#Adjective|brief and controlled#Adjective|controlled.

   Synonyms: concise, crisp, terse, tight, Thesaurus:concise

   Antonyms: Thesaurus:verbose

4. (figuratively) experience#Verb|Experiencing anxiety or stress#Noun|stress.

   Synonyms: nonrelaxed, strained, tense, unrelaxed

5. (nautical, of a sailor, a ship, etc.) Neat and well#Adjective|well-disciplined#Adjective|disciplined; (by extension) efficient and in order.
6. (oenology) Strong; uncompromising.

• French: tendu, contracté
• German: gespannt
• Italian: teso, tirato
• Portuguese: tenso, teso, esticado, retesado
• Russian: натя́нутый
• Spanish: tenso, tirante

• French: concis
• Italian: conciso
• Portuguese: conciso
• Spanish: conciso

• French: tendu, stressé, anxieux
• German: angespannt
• Italian: teso, tirato, ansioso, nervoso, agitato
• Portuguese: tenso
• Russian: напряжённый
• Spanish: tenso

taut (tauts, present participle tauting; past and past participle tauted)

1. (transitive) To make#Verb|make taut; to tauten, to tighten.
   • 1920 May, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, “The Cut-Glass Bowl”, in Flappers and Philosophers, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, OCLC 623621399 ↗, part IV, page 153 ↗:

     The cold wind blew in again through the front door, and with a desperate, frantic energy Evelyn stretched both her arms around the bowl. She must be quick—she must be strong. She tightened her arms until they ached, tauted the thin strips of muscle under her soft flesh, and with a mighty effort raised it and held it.