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tent

n. · v.
US //ˈtɛnt// UK //tˈɛnt// tent
  1. 1 portable shelter (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a shelter made of cloth or canvas that you sleep in when you go camping.

    a portable shelter consisting of fabric stretched over a supporting frame of poles and ropes.

    Example

    We spent the afternoon putting up our tent before it started to rain.

    Example

    The hikers struggled to secure their tent against the gale-force winds that swept across the ridge during the night.
  2. 2 medical plug (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    a small piece of soft material used by doctors to keep a wound or opening open.

    a cylindrical or conical plug of absorbent material used to dilate a canal or keep a wound open for drainage.

    Example

    The surgeon used a small tent to ensure the wound could drain properly.

    Example

    A laminaria tent is frequently employed in obstetric procedures to achieve gradual cervical dilation over several hours.
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  1. 3 to cover food (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    to cover food loosely with foil in a shape like a roof to keep it moist while cooking.

    to cover food loosely with aluminium foil, shaped into a peak, to retain heat or moisture without touching the surface.

    Example

    Tent the turkey with foil so the meat stays juicy while it roasts.

    Example

    After removing the roast from the oven, tent it with foil and allow it to rest for twenty minutes to let the juices redistribute.
  2. 4 to go camping (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to live or sleep in a tent while on holiday.

    to lodge in a tent or to go camping; often used as an intransitive verb.

    Example

    We decided to tent near the lake instead of staying in a hotel.

    Example

    The expedition members were forced to tent on the glacier for three days while they waited for the visibility to improve.
Etymology 1

From Middle English tente, borrowed from Old French tente, from Vulgar Latin tenta (“tent”), from the feminine of Latin tentus, ptp. of tendere (“to stretch, extend”), or contracted from tendita as an alternate past participle. Displaced native Middle English tild, tilt (“tent, tilt”), from Old English teld (“tent”). Compare Spanish tienda (“store, shop; tent”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English tent (“attention”), aphetic variation of attent (“attention”), from Old French atente (“attention, intention”), from Latin attenta, feminine of attentus, past participle of attendere (“to attend”). Compare tend, from an aphetic variation of attend

Etymology 3

From Middle English tente (“a probe”), from Middle French tente, deverbal of tenter, from Latin tentāre (“to probe, test”), alteration of temptāre (“to test, probe, tempt”).

Etymology 4

From Spanish tinto (“deep-colored”), from Latin tīnctus, past participle of tingo (“to dye”). More at tinge. Doublet of tint and tinto. Compare claret (“French red wine”), also from color.

Idioms4 entries

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