[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/tattoo/)

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# tattoo

noun (a tattoo, tattoos); verb (tattoo, tattoos, tattooed, tattooing)

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

## Everyday

1. A picture or pattern made on the skin with ink pushed in by a needle, which stays there. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#m1)
2. To make such a picture on someone's skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#m2)
3. A military show with music, marching and drums, often at night, like the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#m3)
4. A steady beating or tapping sound, like rain drumming. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life many adults have tattoos; in many places you must be an adult to get one. In history and culture lessons, pupils learn that tattoos have deep meanings in some cultures, such as Māori «tā moko» in New Zealand and Polynesian tattooing. A military tattoo is a festival show. Phrases: «get a tattoo», «a temporary tattoo», «military tattoo».

### Examples

- My uncle has a tattoo of an anchor on his arm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#x1)
- We put on temporary tattoos at the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#x2)
- In many countries you must be 18 to get a tattoo. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#x3)
- Māori tā moko are traditional tattoos with special meaning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#x4)
- We watched the military tattoo with bagpipes and drums. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#x5)
- Rain beat a tattoo on the tin roof. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#x6)
- The artist tattooed a dragon on her back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#x7)
- They sang in unison a merry dance-song, and beat a lively tattoo on the drum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tattoo/#x8)

### Note

Spelling: two «t»s and two «o»s: tattoo, tattoos. Stress on the second part: «ta-TOO». Real tattoos are permanent and hard to remove; «temporary tattoos» wash off. Getting a tattoo needs a clean, licensed place.

## On Mova

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