First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1tame
adjective \ˈtām\
: not wild : trained to obey people
: not afraid of people
: not exciting or interesting
tam·ertam·est
Full Definition of TAME
1
: reduced from a state of native wildness especially so as to be tractable and useful to humans : domesticated <tame animals>
2
: made docile and submissive : subdued
3
: lacking spirit, zest, interest, or the capacity to excite : insipid <a tame campaign>
— tame·ly adverb
— tame·ness noun
See tame defined for English-language learners
See tame defined for kids
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Origin of TAME
Middle English, from Old English tam; akin to Old High German zam tame, Latin domare to tame, Greek damnanai
Related to TAME
- Synonyms
- domestic, domesticated, tamed
- Antonyms
- feral, nondomesticated, savage, undomesticated, untamed, wild
2tame
verb
: to make (an animal) tame
: to make (something) less wild or difficult to control : to bring (something) under control
tamedtam·ing
Full Definition of TAME
transitive verb
1
a : to reduce from a wild to a domestic state b : to subject to cultivation c : to bring under control : harness
2
3
: to tone down : soften <tamed the language in the play>
intransitive verb
: to become tame
— tam·able or tame·able \ˈtā-mə-bəl\ adjective
— tam·er noun
See tame defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of TAME
13th century
Related to TAME
TAMELY Defined for Kids
1tame
adjective \ˈtām\
tam·ertam·est
Definition of TAME for Kids
1
: changed from the wild state so as to become useful and obedient to people : domestic <a tame elephant>
2
: not afraid of people <The chipmunks at the park are very tame.>
2tame
verb
tamedtam·ing
Definition of TAME for Kids
: to make or become gentle or obedient <They tamed the lion.>
— tam·er noun
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