Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tacks, present participle tacking, past tense, past participle tacked
1. countable noun
A tack is a short nail with a broad, flat head, especially one that is used for fastening carpets to the floor.
2. See also thumbtack
3. to get down to brass tacks
4. verb
If you tack something to a surface, you pin it there with tacks or drawing pins.
He had tacked this note to her door. [VERB noun + to]
She had recently taken a poster from the theatre and tacked it up on the wall. [VERB noun with adverb]
Synonyms: fasten, fix, attach, pin More Synonyms of tack
5.
See to change tack
6. verb
If a sailing boat is tacking or if the people in it tack it, it is sailing towards a particular point in a series of sideways movements rather than in a straight line.
We were tacking fairly close inshore. [VERB]
Our last trip involved a coastal passage, tacking east against wind and current. [VERB adverb/preposition]
The helmsman could tack the boat singlehanded. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: change course, swerve, change direction, go about More Synonyms of tack
7. verb
If you tack pieces of material together, you sew them together with big, loose stitches in order to hold them firmly or check that they fit, before sewing them properly.
Tack them together with a 1.5 cm seam. [VERB noun with together]
Tack the cord around the cushion. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: stitch, sew, hem, bind More Synonyms of tack
Phrasal verbs:
See tack on
More Synonyms of tack
tack in British English1
(tæk)
noun
1.
a short sharp-pointed nail, usually with a flat and comparatively large head
2. British
a long loose temporary stitch used in dressmaking, etc
3. tailor's-tack
4.
a temporary fastening
5.
stickiness, as of newly applied paint, varnish, etc
6. nautical
the heading of a vessel sailing to windward, stated in terms of the side of the sail against which the wind is pressing
7. nautical
a.
a course sailed by a sailing vessel with the wind blowing from forward of the beam
b.
one such course or a zigzag pattern of such courses
8. nautical
a.
a sheet for controlling the weather clew of a course
b.
the weather clew itself
9. nautical
the forward lower clew of a fore-and-aft sail
10.
a course of action differing from some previous course
he went off on a fresh tack
11. on the wrong tack
verb
12. (transitive)
to secure by a tack or series of tacks
13. British
to sew (something) with long loose temporary stitches
14. (transitive)
to attach or append
tack this letter onto the other papers
15. nautical
to change the heading of (a sailing vessel) to the opposite tack
16. nautical
to steer (a sailing vessel) on alternate tacks
17. (intransitive) nautical
(of a sailing vessel) to proceed on a different tack or to alternate tacks
18. (intransitive)
to follow a zigzag route; keep changing one's course of action
Derived forms
tackless (ˈtackless)
adjective
Word origin
C14 tak fastening, nail; related to Middle Low German tacke pointed instrument
tack in British English2
(tæk)
noun
informal
food, esp when regarded as inferior or distasteful
See also hardtack
Word origin
C19: of unknown origin
tack in British English3
(tæk)
noun
a.
riding harness for horses, such as saddles, bridles, etc
b.
(as modifier)
the tack room
Word origin
C20: shortened from tackle
tack in British English4
(tæk)
noun Scottish
1.
a lease
2.
an area of land held on a lease
Word origin
C15: from tak a Scots word for take
tack in American English
(tæk)
noun
1.
a short nail or pin, with a narrow shaft that is not tapered and a relatively large, flat head
2.
a.
the act of fastening, esp. in a slight or temporary way
b. Sewing
a stitch for marking darts, etc. from a pattern, clipped and later removed
: in full tailor's tack
c.
stickiness; adhesiveness
3.
a zigzag course, or movement in such a course
4.
a course of action or policy, esp. one differing from another or a preceding course
5.
food; foodstuff
hardtack
6. Nautical
a.
a rope for securing the forward lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail
b.
this corner
c.
the direction in which a vessel is moving in relation to the position of the sails
d.
a change of direction in which the sail or sails shift from one side of the vessel to the other
e.
a course against the wind
f.
any of a series of zigzag movements in such a course
7.
equipment for riding a horse, as saddles, bridles, etc.; saddlery
verb transitive
8.
to fasten or attach with tacks
9.
to attach temporarily, as by sewing with long stitches
10.
to attach as a supplement; add
to tack an amendment onto a bill
11. Horse Riding
to put a saddle, bridle, etc. on (a horse)
often with up
12. Nautical
a.
to change the course of (a vessel) by turning its bow into and across the wind
see also wear2
b.
to maneuver (a vessel) against the wind by a series of tacks
verb intransitive
13. Nautical
a.
to tack a sailing vessel
b.
to change its course by being tacked, or sail against the wind by a series of tacks
said of a sailing vessel
14.
to go in a zigzag course
15.
to change suddenly one's policy or course of action
Derived forms
tacker (ˈtacker)
noun
Word origin
ME takke < MDu tacke, twig, point, akin to Ger zacke < ? IE base *dek-, to tear > tail1
Examples of 'tack' in a sentence
tack
In a keynote speech, she will say that people power has transformed the world and politicians must change tack or lose office.
The Sun (2016)
I'd like to take a different tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Where small and medium-sized companies have an advantage over their larger counterparts is their ability to change tack swiftly when faced with this sort of uncertainty.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I try a different tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then one day her career took a different tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Now they were taking the opposite tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Blue will usually tack her sails to put her on starboard as well.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They are on the wrong tack when they do so.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So it has taken a different tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The cynical will say it is just another tack for selling his book.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You may wonder if other nations would have followed the same tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This change of tack was long overdue.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Suggest to your daughter and her fiancé that a different tack may help.
The Sun (2006)
Bridge should have taken a similar tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And this one will take a different tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Rumours were rife of yet another change of tack over plans for two expensive new aircraft carriers.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Happy people also appear better able to cope with practical problems because they know when to change tack or give up.
Paul Martin MAKING HAPPY PEOPLE (2005)
NS&I then suggested a different tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Work up the blind, then tack top edges together.
Churchill, Jane (ed.) Collins Complete Books of Soft Furnishings (1993)
So Labour is trying a new tack.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This change of tack with his first romantic Russian role comes as something of a surprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Ancient ships generally had but one main square sail, so their ability to tack against the wind was limited.
Christianity Today (2000)
What was wrong with hard tack, salt beef, a few limes and a barrel of rum?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Word lists with
tack
Tack and equipment and their parts
In other languages
tack
British English: tack VERB
If you tack something to a surface, you pin it there with tacks or drawing pins.
He had tacked this note to her door.
American English: tack
Brazilian Portuguese: prender com tachinha
Chinese: 用平头钉或图钉钉住
European Spanish: fijar con chinchetas
French: punaiser
German: anheften
Italian: affiggere
Japanese: 鋲で留める
Korean: 압정으로 고정하다
European Portuguese: prender com tachas
Latin American Spanish: fijar con chinchetas
All related terms of 'tack'
tack on
If you say that something is tacked on to something else, you think that it is added in a hurry and in an unsatisfactory way .
Blu-tack
a type of blue , malleable , sticky material used to attach paper , card , etc to walls and other surfaces
hard tack
whisky
tack rag
a cotton cloth impregnated with an oil, used to remove dust from a surface prior to painting
tack room
a room in a stable building in which bridles , saddles , etc are kept
tie tack
a pin used to fasten a tie to the front of a shirt
carpet tack
a flat-headed tack used esp. to tack down carpets
tack hammer
a light hammer for driving tacks
tack welding
short intermittent welds made to hold components in place before full welding is begun
tailor's-tack
one of a series of loose looped stitches used to transfer markings for seams , darts , etc, from a paper pattern to material
tick-tack-toe
a game in which two players , one using a nought , " O ", the other a cross , " X ", alternately mark one square out of nine formed by two pairs of crossed lines, the winner being the first to get three of the symbols in a row
to change tack
If you change tack or try a different tack , you try a different method for dealing with a situation .
tackboard
a noticeboard
on the wrong tack
under a false impression
Chinese translation of 'tack'
tack
(tæk)
n(c)
(= nail) 图(圖)钉(釘) (túdīng)
vt
(= nail) 用图(圖)钉(釘)钉(釘) (yòng túdīng dìng)
(= stitch) 粗缝(縫) (cū féng)
vi
(Naut) 抢(搶)风(風)航行 (qiǎng fēng hángxíng)
to change tack, try a different tack改变(變)方针(針) (gǎibiàn fāngzhēn)
to tack sth on to (the end of) sth[note, clause]把某事物附加到某事物(的末尾) (bǎ mǒu shìwù fùjiādào mǒu shìwù (de mòwěi))
1 (noun)
Definition
a short sharp-pointed nail with a large flat head
Use a staple gun or upholstery tacks.
Synonyms
nail
A mirror hung on a nail above the washstand.
pin
Use pins to keep the material in place as you work.
stud
You see studs on lots of London front doors.
staple
rivet
drawing pin
thumbtack (US)
tintack
2 (noun)
Definition
a course of action or a policy
In desperation I changed tack.
Synonyms
course
Resignation is the only course left open to him.
approach
We will be exploring different approaches to information-gathering.
direction
tactic
His tactic to press on paid off.
way
Freezing is a great way to preserve most foods.
plan
She met her creditors to propose a plan for making repayments.
heading
line
The government promised to take a hard line on crime.
bearing
method
new teaching methods
path
The country is on the path to economic recovery.
procedure
He did not follow the correct procedure in applying for a visa.
tenor
The whole tenor of discussions has changed.
3 (noun)
Definition
the course of a boat sailing obliquely into the wind, expressed in terms of the side of the boat against which the wind is blowing
The forecast was bad. If only we'd kept on the other tack!
Synonyms
direction
We drove ten miles in the opposite direction.
course
For nearly four hours we maintained our course northwards.
bearing
I'm flying on a bearing of ninety-three degrees.
heading
line
What are the benefits of this line of research?
track
following the track of a hurricane
path
A group of reporters blocked his path.
The tornado wrecked everything in its path.
1 (verb)
Definition
to fasten (something) with a tack or tacks
He had tacked this note to the door.
Synonyms
fasten
Use screws to fasten the shelf to the wall.
fix
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
attach
Attach labels to things before you file them away.
pin
They pinned a notice to the door.
nail
Frank put the first plank down and nailed it in place.
staple
affix
Complete the form and affix four tokens.
2 (verb)
Definition
to steer (a boat) on a zigzag course, so as to make progress against the wind
We were tacking fairly close inshore.
Synonyms
change course
swerve
change direction
go about
come about
zigzag
change heading
sail into the wind
3 (verb)
(British)
Tack the cord around the cushion.
Synonyms
stitch
Fold the fabric and stitch the two layers together.
sew
Anyone can sew a hem, including you.
hem
bind
Bind the edges of the blind with braid or fringing.
baste
phrasal verb
See tack something on to something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affix
Definition
to attach or fasten
Complete the form and affix four tokens.
Synonyms
attach,
add,
join,
stick on,
bind,
put on,
tag,
glue,
paste,
tack,
fasten,
annex,
append (formal),
subjoin
in the sense of approach
Definition
a way of dealing with a matter
We will be exploring different approaches to information-gathering.
Synonyms
way,
means,
course,
style,
attitude,
method,
technique,
manner,
procedure,
mode,
modus operandi
in the sense of attach
Definition
to join, fasten, or connect
Attach labels to things before you file them away.
Synonyms
affix,
stick,
secure,
bind,
unite,
add,
join,
couple,
link,
tie,
fix,
connect,
lash,
glue,
adhere,
fasten,
annex,
truss,
yoke,
append (formal),
make fast,
cohere,
subjoin,
bootstrap to
Synonyms of 'tack'
tack
Explore 'tack' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bearing
Definition
the position, as of a ship, fixed with reference to two or more known points
I'm flying on a bearing of ninety-three degrees.
Synonyms
position,
heading,
course,
direction,
path,
orientation,
point of compass
in the sense of bind
Definition
to provide (a garment) with an edging
Bind the edges of the blind with braid or fringing.
Synonyms
edge,
finish,
border,
trim,
hem
in the sense of fix
Definition
to attach or place permanently
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
Synonyms
place,
join,
stick (informal),
attach,
set,
position,
couple,
plant,
link,
establish,
tie,
settle,
secure,
bind,
root,
connect,
locate,
pin,
install,
anchor,
glue,
cement,
implant,
embed,
fasten,
make fast
in the sense of line
Definition
a policy or prescribed way of thinking
The government promised to take a hard line on crime.
Synonyms
approach,
policy,
position,
way,
course,
practice,
scheme,
method,
technique,
procedure,
tactic,
avenue,
ideology,
course of action
in the sense of line
Definition
a policy or prescribed way of thinking
What are the benefits of this line of research?
Synonyms
course,
way,
direction,
tendency,
drift,
tack
in the sense of method
Definition
a way of doing something, esp. a systematic or regular one
new teaching methods
Synonyms
manner,
process,
approach,
technique,
way,
plan,
course,
system,
form,
rule,
programme,
style,
practice,
fashion,
scheme,
arrangement,
procedure,
routine,
mode,
modus operandi
in the sense of path
Definition
a course of conduct
The country is on the path to economic recovery.
Synonyms
course,
way,
road,
track,
route,
procedure
in the sense of path
Definition
the course or direction in which something moves
A group of reporters blocked his path.The tornado wrecked everything in its path.
Synonyms
route,
way,
course,
direction,
passage
in the sense of pin
Definition
a short stiff straight piece of wire with a pointed end and a rounded head: used mainly for fastening
Use pins to keep the material in place as you work.
Synonyms
tack,
nail,
needle,
safety pin
in the sense of pin
Definition
to fasten with a pin or pins
They pinned a notice to the door.
Synonyms
fasten,
stick,
attach,
join,
fix,
secure,
nail,
clip,
staple,
tack,
affix
Additional synonyms
in the sense of plan
Definition
a method thought out for doing or achieving something
She met her creditors to propose a plan for making repayments.
Synonyms
scheme,
system,
design,
idea,
programme,
project,
proposal,
strategy,
method,
suggestion,
procedure,
plot,
device,
scenario,
proposition,
contrivance
in the sense of procedure
Definition
a way of doing something, esp. an established method
He did not follow the correct procedure in applying for a visa.
Synonyms
method,
policy,
process,
course,
system,
form,
action,
step,
performance,
operation,
practice,
scheme,
strategy,
conduct,
formula,
custom,
routine,
transaction,
plan of action,
modus operandi
in the sense of sew
Definition
to attach, fasten, or close by sewing
Anyone can sew a hem, including you.
Synonyms
stitch,
tack (British),
seam,
hem,
baste
in the sense of stud
Definition
a fastener consisting of two discs at either end of a short bar, usually used with clothes
You see studs on lots of London front doors.
Synonyms
rivet,
tack,
press-stud,
tintack
in the sense of tactic
Definition
a move or method used to achieve an aim or task
His tactic to press on paid off.
Synonyms
policy,
approach,
course,
way,
means,
move,
line,
scheme,
plans,
method,
trick,
device,
manoeuvre,
tack,
ploy,
stratagem,
gambit
in the sense of tenor
Definition
a general meaning or character
The whole tenor of discussions has changed.
Synonyms
meaning,
trend,
drift,
way,
course,
sense,
aim,
purpose,
direction,
path,
theme,
substance,
burden,
tendency,
intent,
purport
in the sense of track
Definition
the mark or trail left by something that has passed by