tattoo

Universal Words noun, verb noun (plural tattoos) 1 a picture or design that is marked permanently on a person's skin by making small holes in the skin with a needle and filling them with coloured ink: His arms were covered in tattoos. * She has a tattoo of a tiger on her shoulder. 2 (especially BrE) an outdoor show by members of the armed forces that includes marching, music and military exercises: the Edinburgh military tattoo 3 [usuallysing.] a rapid and continuous series of taps or hits, especially on a drum as a military signal: The drummers beat a tattoo each morning. * Her fingers tapped a light tattoo on the table. * George felt his heart begin to beat a tattoo against his ribs. verb [VN] ~ A on B