Tame Meaning and Definition
Tame
Pronunciation
/teɪm/
Part of Speech
Adjective
Definition
Domesticated or rendered harmless; docile and tractable; having been broken or trained to be obedient to human control.
Examples
- The zookeeper keeps the tamed animals in a special enclosure.
- The wild animals in the forest are not tamed.
Synonyms
- Domesticated
- Tamed
- Broken
Antonyms
- Wild
- Feral
- Untamed
Etymology
The word “Tame” is derived from the Old English word “tæm”, meaning “tamed, domesticated”, which is related to the Proto-Germanic word “*tammiz”, also meaning “tamed”.
Usage Notes
When used as an adjective, “Tame” can describe an animal that has been domesticated or broken to be obedient to human control. It can also be used figuratively to describe a person or thing that has lost its natural or wild character.
Cultural References
In popular culture, “Tame” has been used in various contexts. For example, in the novel and film “The Hunger Games”, the protagonist Katniss Everdeen is described as a tamed creature, and in the song “Tame” by Taylor Swift, the lyrics describe a relationship where the speaker is trying to tame their partner.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- Tame the beast
- Bite the bullet and get tamed
Related Words or Phrases
- Train
- Domestication
- Wild
Collocations
- Tamed animals
- Tame breeds
- Tamed beast
Frequency of Use
The word “Tame” is commonly used in English, particularly in the context of zoology, agriculture, and popular culture.
Common Misspellings
- Teamed
- Team
- Tam