tack

¹tack

verb \ˈtak\

Definition of TACK

transitive verb

1

: attach; especially : to fasten or affix with tacks

2

: to join in a slight or hasty manner

3

a : to add as a supplement b : to add (a rider) to a parliamentary bill

4

: to change the direction of (a sailing ship) when sailing close-hauled by turning the bow to the wind and shifting the sails so as to fall off on the other side at about the same angle as before

intransitive verb

1

a : to tack a sailing ship b of a ship : to change to an opposite tack by turning the bow to the wind c : to follow a course against the wind by a series of tacks

2

a : to follow a zigzag course b : to modify one's policy or attitude abruptly

— tack·er noun

Examples of TACK

1. She tacked a poster on the wall.
2. A message was tacked to the board.
3. We had to tack repeatedly as we sailed toward the harbor.

Origin of TACK

Middle English takken, from tak

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with TACK

back, black, Braque, clack, claque, crack, flack, flak, hack, jack, knack, lac, lack, lakh, mac, Mac, pack, plaque, quack, rack, sac, sack, sacque, shack, slack, smack, snack, stack, tach, thwack, track, Wac, wack, whack, wrack, yak