tart

2
[ tahrt ]
/ tɑrt /

noun

a small pie filled with cooked fruit or other sweetened preparation, usually having no top crust.
a covered pie containing fruit or the like.
Slang. a prostitute or promiscuous woman.

Verb Phrases

tart up, Slang. to adorn, dress, or decorate, especially in a flamboyant manner: The old restaurant was tarted up to look like a Viennese café.

Origin of tart

2
1350–1400; 1905–10 for def 3; Middle English tarte < Middle French; compare Medieval Latin tarta

Words nearby tart

tarsoplasty, tarsorrhaphy, tarsotarsal, tarsotomy, tarsus, tart, tart cell, tart up, tartan, tartanry, tartar

British Dictionary definitions for tart up (1 of 4)

tart up

verb (tr, adverb) British informal

to dress and make (oneself) up in a provocative way
to decorate or improve the appearance of to tart up a bar

British Dictionary definitions for tart up (2 of 4)

tart 1
/ (tɑːt) /

noun

a pastry case often having no top crust, with a sweet or savoury filling

Word Origin for tart

C14: from Old French tarte, of uncertain origin; compare Medieval Latin tarte

British Dictionary definitions for tart up (3 of 4)

tart 2
/ (tɑːt) /

adjective

(of a flavour, food, etc) sour, acid, or astringent
cutting, sharp, or caustic a tart remark

Derived forms of tart

tartish, adjective tartishly, adverb tartly, adverb tartness, noun

Word Origin for tart

Old English teart rough; related to Dutch tarten to defy, Middle High German traz defiance

British Dictionary definitions for tart up (4 of 4)

tart 3
/ (tɑːt) /

noun

informal a promiscuous woman, esp a prostitute: often a term of abuse See also tart up

Derived forms of tart

tarty, adjective

Word Origin for tart

C19: shortened from sweetheart