The word "taut" is an adjective that can be used to describe so many things, from bodies and objects to moods and expressions. Taut is a versatile adjective that gets used in a number of different ways, and it has so many related words and dictionary definitions. Taut sails, taut rope, taut facial expressions, taut muscles, taut skin – there's a whole lot of uses for this word! So what does taut actually mean?

In this article, we'll dive into the dictionary definition of taut, looking at examples of what this adjective and its synonyms describe. We'll also explain the reason that our very best skin care products are called Taut, and how they can be applied to help you achieve the youthful, taut skin of your dreams.

Dictionary Definition of Taut (Adjective, Synonyms & Related Words)

According to Collins English Dictionary, taut (pronounced "taught") is an adjective word that refers to "something that is stretched very tight." 1

Taut (adjective) is a word that can be used to describe objects, or it can also describe various elements of the human body. A muscular body is taut, as is a sharp mind, or a tense rope. Taut is the opposite word for slack or loose.

According to its dictionary definition, the word "taut" originates from the Middle English "tought" (earlier "taught") which was a variant of tough or fierce. In Middle English, "tought" was also the past participle of pull. This is why taut is an adjective word that often describes something that we pull tight, like a rope.

Related words:

• Tautly (adverb), tautness (noun)

• Taut synonyms: tight, stretched, rigid, stressed, tense, strained, terse, concise, succinct, sharp, neat, trim.

• Other related words: tauter (comparative), tautest (superlative).

The word taut in other languages:

• Italian: teso

• Portuguese: esticado

• Spanish: tenso

• French: tendu

• German: straff

5 Examples of Taut: How to Use the Word Taut

Here are some common examples of how we use the word taut and its synonyms:

1. Taut Objects

When describing objects, taut (adjective) is a word that describes something that is pulled tight or stretched to a great tension. Taut can refer to anything that is drawn tight. For example, taut sails or a taut rope. When you pull an object until it is tense, with no slack, it has been drawn taut.

Objects that are in good order or neat might also be described with the word taut. This use of the word can also be applied to routines and structures that are well disciplined, for example, "he runs a taut ship." Here, its synonyms might also be used, for example, "he runs a tight ship."

2. Taut Atmosphere

We might also describe an atmosphere or mood with the word taut. For example, a movie with a gripping plot might be described as a taut thriller or a taut story.

You probably know the phrase "you could cut the tension with a knife." This describes tension in the atmosphere as if it were a tightly drawn piece of string, and it's why we might also describe a mood as being "taut." The use of the word taut here relates to a sense of nervous tension as if something could snap at any moment.

3. Taut Nerves

This word can also describe nervous tension in our minds, and a stressed or strained mental state can be described with the adjective "taut."

If someone is emotionally or mentally strained, you could say that they have taut nerves. The same goes for the facial expressions they might make when feeling physical or nervous tension, for example, "her expression is taut."

4. Taut Muscles

When describing elements of the human body, taut is an adjective word that can relate to physical or nervous tension. It's the opposite of being slack, loose, relaxed, or flabby.

For example, "taut" could describe the muscles of an athletic body type. If someone is slim, lean, or muscular, they could be said to have taut muscles or a taut body. If your muscles are feeling tight or tense after a workout, the adjective taut could also be used as a word to describe that feeling. Its synonyms tight and tense work well here too.

5. Taut Skin

You may see the phrase taut skin circulating in conversations about skincare and aging. Taut is the word used to describe skin that is toned, not loose or flabby. Taut is an adjective that describes skin that is stretched tight, without wrinkles or sagging.

Taut skin is not the same as tight skin, as the words "tight skin" imply a dry, uncomfortable tightness. Instead, when you keep the skin on your face taut, your complexion looks plump and youthful. When you pull on taut skin, it springs back into place. Taut skin is the opposite of crepey skin.

The Benefits of Taut Skin

So why is taut skin so important in skincare? Here are some of the reasons why so many people care about this adjective when it comes to their skin:

Taut Skin Has Fewer Wrinkles

When skin is stretched tight, it doesn't show any wrinkles. This is the number one reason that so many of us are seeking taut skin!

Throughout our teens and twenties, our bodies produce a lot of collagen and elastin which are the proteins needed to maintain taut, plump skin. This natural production of proteins slows down in our thirties, and typically around the age of 35, we begin to lose more collagen and elastin than we produce.

Collagen and elastin are responsible for maintaining taut skin, so the loss of these proteins will naturally cause wrinkles and a loss of skin elasticity. Taut skin is the plump, healthy skin of our youth, and it's what anti-aging treatments aim to maintain.

Taut Skin Doesn't Sag

Because taut skin is stretched tight, it also doesn't look loose or saggy. Sagging skin is also caused by the loss of collagen and elastin that we experience with age, and it often shows most prominently around the jawline and neck. It's why we get jowls and the slack skin below the chin that's commonly referred to as "turkey neck".

Aside from the natural aging process, other causes of sagging skin include sun damage, significant weight loss, and pregnancy. Sagging skin is totally natural, but there are some skincare treatments that can help maintain the tautness of your skin, keeping skin tightly stretched around your jawline for a little longer.

More helpful reading: How to get rid of jowls

Tightly Stretched Skin Looks Years Younger

When skin is pulled taut, sagging and wrinkles disappear and your complexion is instantly more youthful. This is why one of the traditional anti-aging cosmetic surgeries is called a facelift. A facelift is a treatment that literally lifts the skin on your face, so that it's pulled taut. This accentuates the contours and muscles of your face, reducing sagging and wrinkles for a more youthful-looking face.

Luckily, we usually don't need expensive and invasive cosmetic surgeries to get taut, youthful skin. There have been big advances in dermatology that have lead to the development of exciting products and treatments that can help make skin taut, without going under the knife.

More helpful reading: How to get youthful skin

The Perfect Skincare Routine for Taut Skin

If you want to achieve taut skin, you can do so by nourishing your skin with the right products and treatments. Let us show you how to tighten your skin with a great skincare routine!

Cleanse with Antioxidants

You should always start and finish your day by cleansing your skin. In the morning, it's important to wash away any dirt or bacteria that has built up overnight. In the evening, cleansing will remove makeup and dirt that would otherwise clog your pores.

When choosing a cleanser for taut skin, you want something that contains ingredients that with help shrink your pores and tighten your skin. Look out for the following ingredients in your cleanser:

• Antioxidants – ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea help protect your skin against harmful toxins that damage your collagen and elastin supplies.

• Caffeine – not just for your morning coffee, caffeine is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredient that boosts circulation and tightens your skin.

• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) – a gentle yet effective ingredient that reduces blemishes, regulates oil production, and boosts collagen production for a firmer complexion.

Cleansers containing some of the above ingredients should help begin the journey towards firm, taut skin!

Gently Exfoliate for Firmer Skin

We all know that removing dead skin is key to avoiding a dull and lacklustre complexion, but did you know that exfoliation can also shrink pores and tighten skin, too?

Exfoliating acids are powerful little ingredients that can dissolve and remove dead skin cells, resulting in a smoother, more youthful appearance. Exfoliation also leaves a more absorbent base for your serums and moisturizers to penetrate your skin more effectively. By regularly exfoliating with these acids, you can ensure that your expensive serums and treatments are actually going to work, with no obstructions.

The best exfoliating acids for taut skin are:

• Glycolic acid – this potent ingredient is the most widely-used alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). It not only removes dead skin cells, but it also boosts circulation and speeds up collagen production to reduce wrinkles and sagging.

• Salicylic acid – this is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that removes dead skin cells, shrinks pores, and regulates oil production. It's the best exfoliant for oily skin types, as it not only tightens the skin, it reduces the build-up of sebum and combats acne.

Exfoliating 2–3 times per week can help your skin look drawn tight, gently lifted with smaller pores and fewer imperfections for a younger, more taut appearance.

Use Skin-Tightening Serums & Masks

After exfoliation, your skin is perfectly primed and ready to absorb whatever nutrients you apply next, so it's important to choose wisely. Serums are the ideal next step here, or you could go for a rich sheet mask for a more potent treatment.

Serums are typically water-based formulas with a thin viscosity, meaning they are easily and quickly absorbed into the skin. They are one of the most effective ways to get nutrients into your dermis, so it's really important not to skip this step of your skincare routine. A sheet mask is a type of face mask that combines a powerful serum with a sheet layer that stays on your face for 10-2o minutes, allowing the serum to infuse even deeper into your skin.

The best ingredients to look out for in a serum for taut skin are:

• Collagen peptides – these are nano-sized molecules that penetrate deep into the dermis to trigger your natural collagen production process, resulting in more collagen to tone and thicken your skin, reduce wrinkles, and combat sagging.

• Vitamin C – this vitamin helps speed up the collagen production process, while also fighting toxins called "free radicals" that damage your skin's foundations and cause wrinkles. This is also a brightening ingredient that seriously boosts your radiance.

• Retinol – a derivative of vitamin A that can speed up skin cell turnover, thicken skin, and boost collagen production.

For a powerful and effective treatment, try Taut Collagen Mask. Our unique triple-action formula tones, brightens, and hydrates your skin in just 15 minutes. Each Taut sheet mask is infused with a rich serum containing hydrolyzed collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, botanical squalene, and vitamin C.

This luxurious sheet mask is the perfect way to treat your skin to something special after a long week, or before a big event. It boosts collagen in your skin while calming inflammation and redness, resulting in an instant glow and a plump, taut complexion.

Hydrate with Skin-Plumping Moisturizers

After applying a serum, it's important to seal in all that good stuff with a moisturizing barrier layer. The best ingredients for will plump up your dermis from within so that your skin will be hydrated yet drawn taut. These include:

• Hyaluronic acid – this ingredient is a superhero for hydration, as it can attract and retain up to 1000 times its weight in water. When it reaches your dermis, it retains water there for a plumper, tauter complexion.

• Ceramide – this ingredient is crucial to reinforcing your skin barrier, locking in nutrients and preventing the evaporation of crucial moisture.

Look for these ingredients in your moisturizers and you'll be well on your way to firm, taut skin.

Read our guide to finding the best moisturizer at RenewSkin Inc.

Always Apply Sun Protection

Sun damage is the enemy of taut skin, so it's essential to keep your skin protected from the sun's harmful UV rays. Exposure to the sun weakens collagen in your skin, accelerating the formation of wrinkles and slack, sagging skin.

To keep your skin stretched tight and tense for longer, make sure you apply sunscreen every day, without fail. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or above is the best choice, as this will protect your skin against both UVA and UVB rays.

Take Collagen Supplements

Collagen is the protein responsible for taut skin, so the secret to keeping that youthful complexion for as long as possible is to keep your collagen supplies topped up. Although topical skincare containing hydrolyzed collagen peptides is a good way to go, a supplement can go one step further to activate your natural collagen production from within.

Taut Liquid Collagen is our signature collagen drink that works from within to promote firmer, fuller, more radiant skin. Specially formulated with hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides (13 g), hyaluronic acid, elastin peptides, grape seed extract, ceramide, and vitamins B and C, each tiny bottle of Taut Liquid Collagen contains the full spectrum of anti-aging nutrients to promote taut skin.

When you drink a high-quality collagen supplement like ours, it reaches special cells in your body called fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are responsible for collagen production, and when collagen peptides reach these cells they trigger what's known as a "wound repair response" which basically kickstarts your collagen production processes. It's the most effective natural treatment to reduce wrinkles and maintain taut skin.

Try Anti-Aging Facials

Every now and again, it pays to visit a professional who can treat your sagging skin concerns with something a little stronger than your home treatments. The best types of facials for taut skin are:

• Chemical peels – these treatments are a stronger version of the exfoliating acids you might use at home. They remove the top layers of your skin to reveal fresher, more youthful skin below, and they are effective at reducing the appearance of wrinkles and firming up sagging skin.

• Microneedling – this facial uses a tool studded with tiny needles to create microscopic punctures in the skin, triggering the wound repair response that boosts collagen production.

• LED light therapy – this collagen treatment uses infrared light to penetrate deep into the dermis, where its heat activates fibroblasts to produce more collagen while also reducing inflammation.

Each of these treatments is effective at boosting collagen production for taut skin, but you'll need to visit your dermatologist for regular sessions to really see results.

Taut Collagen & Taut Skin: A Match Made in Heaven

The dictionary definition of taut describes something that is tightly drawn, under great tension, or in good order. Our collagen is called Taut because it lifts and tightens sagging skin, working like a natural facelift to give you a more youthful and radiant complexion.

The Taut Intense Transformation Program is our signature skincare bundle that kickstarts your journey to taut skin. It contains a three-week supply of our Taut Liquid Collagen Drink – the perfect amount to kick your collagen production into high gear. By drinking one small bottle of Taut Liquid Collagen daily for three weeks, you're providing your skin and body with high-potency marine collagen peptides alongside 6 clinically-studied ingredients that convert aging skin into a glowing, taut complexion.

Leave wrinkles and sagging behind in favor of tighter, firmer skin on your face and body. Faster and more effective collagen production will help stave off crow's feet, forehead wrinkles, jowls, cellulite, and other signs of aging. After three weeks of our Taut Intensive Transformation Program, the adjective words to describe your skin will be taut, plump, youthful, and radiant!

You can save up to 20% on our Taut Intense Transformation Program when you subscribe to our autoship service! Check it out: https://www.renewskinco.com/collections/auto-ship-service

References:

1. Dictionary definition of taut: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/taut