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tackle definition

tackle (tak′əl; for n. 5, naut. tā′kəl)

noun

  1. apparatus; equipment; gear fishing tackle
  2. a rope and pulley block, or a system of ropes and pulleys, used to lower, raise, or move various objects
  3. the act or an instance of tackling, as in football
  4. ☆ Football
    in full tackle football
    1. an offensive lineman who is primarily a blocker, usually positioned just outside an offensive guard
    2. a defensive lineman usually positioned near the offensive center
    3. a type of football in which the defensive players tackle the ballcarrier
  5. Naut.
    1. Archaic a ship's rigging
    2. later, the running rigging and pulleys to operate the sails

Etymology: ME takel < MDu, pulley, rope, equipment in general, prob. akin to MLowG tacken, to touch, press, ? akin to take

transitive verb tackled tack′·led, tackling tack′·ling

  1. to fasten by means of tackle
  2. to harness (a horse)
  3. to take hold of; seize
    1. to undertake to do or solve (something difficult) to tackle a job
    2. to deal with (a difficult person)
  5. Football to stop (an opponent carrying the ball), esp. by knocking or throwing to the ground
  6. to knock or throw to the ground a policeman tackled the fleeing robber

intransitive verb

  1. Football to stop an opponent who is carrying the ball, esp. by knocking or throwing the opponent to the ground
  2. to knock or throw someone to the ground

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

tackle Synonyms

tackle

n.

  1. Equipment

    rigging, ropes and pulleys, apparatus; see equipment.

  2. A contrivance having mechanical advantage

    pulleys, block-and-tackle, mechanical purchase, differential tackle, differential*, movable pulley; see also pulley.

  3. In football, an attempt to down a ball-carrier

    flying tackle, low tackle, shoulder tackle, running tackle, sack, plunge, lunge, shoestring tackle*; see also block 5.

  4. In football, one who plays between end and guard

    linesman, right tackle, left tackle, block-and-tackle man*; see football player.

  5. In fishing, equipment

    gear, sporting goods, fishing paraphernalia; see equipment, net, rod 2.

    Fishing tackle includes: hook, line, fly, rod, casting rod, reel, casting reel, cut bait, live bait, minnow, grasshopper, fish eggs, salmon eggs, worm, lure, spinner, seine, fish net, landing net, pole, gaff, float, bobber, cork, sinker, creel, tackle box, fly-typing materials, swivels, shot, deep-sea tackle, leader, number four hook, number six hook, number eight hook, number ten hook, cod hook, bass hook, pike hook, stringer, fish sack, basket, trotline.


tackle

v.

  1. *To undertake

    launch, embark on, work on, set about, take up in earnest, turn one's hand to, begin, turn to, plunge into, devote oneself to, make an attempt, put one's shoulder to the wheel*, dig in*, start the ball rolling*, square off*, get going*; see also try 1, undertake.

    Antonyms avoid*, hesitate*, delay. *

  2. In football, to endeavor to down an opponent

    grapple, seize, throw down, catch, grab, down, throw, throw for a loss, sack, upset, bring to the ground, stop, nail*, smear*, haul to earth*, take*, put the freeze on*.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

tackle Usage Examples

Object

  • poverty: You believe you can tackle poverty in Ethiopia in 15 years?

Preposition: on

  • edge: Mustoe made a rather silly tackle on the edge of the box, leaving his trailing leg out for Ben Fitch to fly over.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • such: We work with a range of agencies in Cumbria to act quickly to tackle issues such as these.

Adjective complement

  • homophobic: At least one teacher in every school should undergo training which includes how to tackle homophobic bullying.

Modifying Another Word

  • effectively: The Depression sparked off problems, which the Weimar constitution and Treaty of Versailles prevented the government from using methods to effectively tackle.

Modifies a noun

  • bag: Rather than load yourself down, make room for a camera in your tackle bag and get out and explore the miles of shoreline.

Used with why or when

  • which: Float fishing is by far the best method although please be sensible when it comes to end tackle which must be strong.

Present participle complement

  • bully: Back-up looks at a new report on the problem and at efforts to tackle bullying.
tackle usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"tackle." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/tackle>

APA Style

tackle. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/tackle

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