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# tartan

noun (a tartan, tartans; also uncountable); adjective (tartan)

«tartan» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Tartan is a pattern of coloured stripes crossing each other at right angles, making squares; it is woven into woollen cloth, especially in Scotland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#m1)
2. A tartan is one particular pattern belonging to a Scottish clan (family group), region or organisation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#m2)
3. Tartan describes things made of this cloth: a tartan kilt, a tartan scarf. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#m3)

### In the lessons

In geography and history lessons about Scotland, tartan is part of Highland culture: kilts, clans and bagpipes. Each clan, like MacDonald or Campbell, has its own tartan, and some countries and towns have one too. In maths and art, tartan is a fun way to study patterns, symmetry and right angles. Phrases: tartan kilt, clan tartan, the Tartan Army (Scotland's football fans), tartan rug.

### Examples

- He wore a tartan kilt at the wedding. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#x1)
- Every Scottish clan has its own tartan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#x2)
- Grandma wrapped a tartan rug around her knees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#x3)
- The tartan pattern has lines that cross at right angles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#x4)
- Our class designed a new tartan for our school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#x5)
- The Tartan Army sang loudly at the football match. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#x6)
- The shortbread tin was covered in red tartan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#x7)
- Tartan was once banned in the Scottish Highlands for a time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/#x8)

### Note

Countable (many tartans, different patterns) or uncountable (a scarf made of tartan). Pronounced «TAR-tun». Americans often call the pattern «plaid»; in Scotland a «plaid» is actually a large piece of tartan cloth worn over the shoulder. Do not confuse with «tartar» (a crust on teeth, or tartare sauce).

## In Jewish tradition

The Assyrian commander took Ashdod and was sent to attack Jerusalem.

**Interpretation.** Tradition remembers Assyria as a mighty empire that God used to punish Israel but stopped at Jerusalem.

### Examples

- And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army unto Jerusalem. (Prophets 2KI.18.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tartan/#x1)
- In the year that Tartan came into Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it; (Prophets ISA.20.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tartan/#x2)

### Note

Countable (many tartans, different patterns) or uncountable (a scarf made of tartan). Pronounced «TAR-tun». Americans often call the pattern «plaid»; in Scotland a «plaid» is actually a large piece of tartan cloth worn over the shoulder. Do not confuse with «tartar» (a crust on teeth, or tartare sauce).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «tartan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tartan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tartan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tartan.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «tartan» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tartan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tartan» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/tartan.html) on Mova free.