tart

tart¹ [ta:t US ta:rt] n

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: tarte;]

[Sense: 2-3; Origin: probably partly from sweetheart]

1.) [U and C]

a ↑pie without a top on it, containing something sweet

apple/treacle/jam etc tart

2.) informal

an insulting word for a woman who you think is too willing to have sex

3.) informal

a ↑prostitute

tart ²

tart² adj

[: Old English; Origin: teart 'sharp, severe']

1.) food that is tart has a sharp sour taste

▪ a tart apple

2.) tart reply/remark etc

a reply, remark etc that is sharp and unkind

>tartly adv

▪ 'I don't think so!' she replied tartly.

>tartness n [U]

tart ³

tart³ v

tart up [tart sth<=>up] phr v

1.) to try to make something more attractive by decorating it, often in a way that other people think is cheap or ugly

▪ We'll need to tart the place up a bit.

2.) tart yourself up/get tarted up

if a woman tarts herself up or gets tarted up, she tries to make herself look attractive by putting on nice clothes, ↑make-up etc - often used humorously

▪ She got all tarted up for the party.