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n. 1. A portable shelter made of fabric or other material stretched over a supporting framework of poles and usually stabilized or secured to the ground with cords and stakes. 2. Something resembling such a portable shelter in construction or outline: "her hair a dark tent, her face a thin triangle" (Anne Tyler). v. tent·ed, tent·ing, tents v.intr. To camp in a tent. v.tr. 1. To form a tent over. 2. To supply with or put up in tents. [Middle English, from Old French tente, from Vulgar Latin *tendita, from feminine past participle of Latin tendere, to stretch out; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]  (click for a larger image) tent1top to bottom: A-frame, dome, and cabin tents |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. A small cylindrical plug of lint or gauze used to keep open or probe a wound or an orifice. tr.v. tent·ed, tent·ing, tents To keep (a wound or orifice) open with such a plug. [Middle English tente, from Old French, from tenter, to probe, from Latin tentāre, to feel, try; see TENTATIVE.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
tr.v. tent·ed, tent·ing, tents Scots 1. To pay heed to. 2. To attend; wait on. [Middle English tenten, from tent, attention, short for attent, from Old French attente, from Vulgar Latin *attendita, from feminine past participle of Latin attendere, to wait on; see ATTEND.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
