tackle

¹tack·le

noun \ˈta-kəl, nautical often ˈtā-\

Definition of TACKLE

1

:  a set of the equipment used in a particular activity :  gear <fishing tackle>

2

a :  a ship's rigging

b :  an assemblage of ropes and pulleys arranged to gain mechanical advantage for hoisting and pulling

3

a :  the act or an instance of tackling

b (1) :  either of two offensive football players positioned on each side of the center and between guard and end (2) :  either of two football players positioned on the inside of a defensive line

Examples of TACKLE

1. a box for fishing tackle
2. He made two tackles in the first half.

Illustration of TACKLE

Origin of TACKLE

Middle English takel; akin to Middle Dutch takel ship's rigging

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to TACKLE

Synonyms

accoutrements (or accouterments), apparatus, gear, hardware, kit [chiefly British], material(s), matériel (or materiel), outfit, paraphernalia, stuff, equipment

Related Words

accessories, appurtenances, attachments, fittings; baggage, belongings, impedimenta; appliances, facilities, instruments, machinery, tools; apparel, attire, habiliments, raiment, trappings; armamentarium, armory, arsenal, battery; assets, resources

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

Rhymes with TACKLE

cackle, crackle, grackle, hackle, macle, rackle, shackle, spackle

²tackle

verb

: to forcefully seize (someone) and cause that person to fall to the ground

American football or rugby : to force (the player with the ball) to fall to the ground

soccer, field hockey, etc. : to try to get the ball from (an opposing player who has it)

tack·ledtack·ling \-k(ə-)liŋ\

Full Definition of TACKLE

transitive verb

1

:  to attach or secure with or as if with tackle

2

a :  to seize, take hold of, or grapple with especially with the intention of stopping or subduing

b :  to seize and throw down or stop (an opposing player with the ball) in football

3

:  to set about dealing with <tackle the problem>

intransitive verb

:  to tackle an opposing player in football

— tack·ler \-k(ə-)lər\ noun

Examples of TACKLE

1. The police officer tackled him as he tried to escape.
2. He was tackled at the line of scrimmage.
3. I'll tackle my homework later.
4. We found new ways to tackle the problem.

First Known Use of TACKLE

1600

Related to TACKLE

Synonyms

dive (into), attack, wade (in or into)

Related Words

address, approach, face; buckle (down to), concentrate (on), focus (on), knuckle down (to), zero (in on); fall (to), pitch in, plunge (in), settle (down); pursue, take up, undertake

Near Antonyms

avoid, evade, shun; dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool, idle, lag, mess, monkey (around), play, poke, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Rhymes with TACKLE

cackle, crackle, hackle, shackle