tack

1 of 4

verb

ˈtak

tacked; tacking; tacks

transitive verb

: attach

tack on some sequins for pizzazz

especially : to fasten or affix with tacks

tack a notice to a pole

tacking down a stairway carpet

: to join or add in a slight or hasty manner

—usually used with on or onto

… the upbeat ending, tacked on to a book that cries out for a tragic one.

Julian Symons

: to add as a supplement or something extra

—usually used with on or onto

tacked fees onto the priceThe Marlins tacked on five runs in the bottom of the eighth …

Buster Olney

: to add (a rider) to a parliamentary bill

provisions tacked to an appropriation bill

: 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

: to tack a sailing ship

We tacked repeatedly as we sailed toward the harbor.

of a ship : to change to an opposite tack by turning the bow to the wind

a ship that tacks easily

: to follow a course against the wind by a series of tacks

Boredom was the chief enemy as the ships tacked to and fro.

Nigel Calder

: to follow a zigzag course

tacked through the crowd

: to modify one's policy or attitude abruptly

With the coming of Ronald Reagan to power, Nixon tacked hard right—an old instinct.

Sidney Blumenthal

tacker noun

tack

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a small short sharp-pointed nail usually having a broad flat head

: the direction of a ship with respect to the trim of her sails

starboard tack

: the run of a sailing ship on one tack

: a change when close-hauled from the starboard to the port tack or vice versa

: a zigzag movement on land

: a course or method of action

especially : one sharply divergent from that previously followed

: any of various usually temporary stitches

: the lower forward corner of a fore-and-aft sail

: a sticky or adhesive quality or condition

tack

3 of 4

noun (2)

: stable gear

especially : articles of harness (such as saddle and bridle) for use on a saddle horse

tack

4 of 4

noun (3)

: hardtack sense 1

Did you know?

Do you change tack or tact?

Although some believe the word tact is short for tactics in phrases like "change tact" or "try a different tact," the correct word in such contexts is tack.

Tack in "change tack" and "try a different tack" means "a course or method of action especially when sharply divergent from that previously followed.”

Tack developed this meaning from its nautical applications. In sailing, tack can refer to the direction that a ship or boat is sailing in as it moves at an angle to the direction of the wind; or to a change from one direction to another direction; or to the distance traveled while sailing in a particular direction.

Tack developed the "course or method of action" meaning near the end of the 17th century; within 100 or so years, the phrase "change tack" was being used with the figurative meaning it has today.

While there is also a long history of people using tact where tack belongs, the use is widely shunned by usage guides, which means you might want to avoid it.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English takken, from tak

Noun (1)

Middle English tak fastener, rope tying down the windward corner of a sail, from Middle French (Norman dialect) taque; akin to Middle Dutch tac sharp point

Noun (2)

perhaps short for tackle

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1924, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tack 1 of 2

noun

ˈtak

: a small nail with a sharp point and usually a broad flat head

: the direction a ship is sailing as shown by the position the sails are set in

: a course or method of action

Since I wasn't getting any answers, I decided to try a different tack.

: a temporary stitch used in sewing

tack

2 of 2

verb

tacked; tacking

: to fasten with tacks

: to attach or join loosely or quickly

At the end of the report, she tacked on her own complaints.

: to change from one course to another in sailing

: to follow a zigzag course

tack 1 of 2

noun

as in approach

the means or procedure for doing something this clearly isn't working, so let's take a different tack in trying to solve the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

approach
method
way
strategy
technique
how
methodology
manner
tactics
style
recipe
system
plan
form
fashion
move
route
shift
process
program
mode
practice
design
line
policy
model
step
blueprint
layout
scheme
expedient
game
routine
plot
intrigue
practise
game plan
ground plan
modus operandi

tack

2 of 2

verb

as in to zigzag

Synonyms & Similar Words

zigzag
veer
deviate
turn
detour
swing
diverge
turn off
swerve
wheel
turn back
sheer
double (back)

as in to tie

Synonyms & Similar Words

tie
stick
pin
glue
screw
adhere
clamp
strap
clip
harness
tackle
hang
latch
yoke
rivet
lash
affix
nail
shackle
staple
cinch
paste
bolt
attach
toggle
plaster
lace
clinch
clasp
bend
hasp
link
clench
fasten
fix
connect
join
coapt
unite
batten
button
refasten
resecure
reaffix
refix
reattach
belay
do up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

split
detach
undo
unhook
divide
separate
sever
unfasten
disconnect
break up
part
dissociate
loosen
loose
divorce
uncouple
sunder
disunite
dissever
unyoke
untie
disjoin
unlink
unbind
disjoint
unfix
unlash

单词	tack
释义	tack 1 of 4 verb ˈtak tacked; tacking; tacks transitive verb 1 : attach tack on some sequins for pizzazz especially : to fasten or affix with tacks tack a notice to a pole tacking down a stairway carpet 2 : to join or add in a slight or hasty manner —usually used with on or onto … the upbeat ending, tacked on to a book that cries out for a tragic one. Julian Symons 3 a : to add as a supplement or something extra —usually used with on or onto tacked fees onto the priceThe Marlins tacked on five runs in the bottom of the eighth … Buster Olney b : to add (a rider) to a parliamentary bill provisions tacked to an appropriation 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 We tacked repeatedly as we sailed toward the harbor. b of a ship : to change to an opposite tack by turning the bow to the wind a ship that tacks easily c : to follow a course against the wind by a series of tacks Boredom was the chief enemy as the ships tacked to and fro. Nigel Calder 2 a : to follow a zigzag course tacked through the crowd b : to modify one's policy or attitude abruptly With the coming of Ronald Reagan to power, Nixon tacked hard right—an old instinct. Sidney Blumenthal tacker noun tack 2 of 4 noun (1) 1 : a small short sharp-pointed nail usually having a broad flat head 2 a : the direction of a ship with respect to the trim of her sails starboard tack b : the run of a sailing ship on one tack c : a change when close-hauled from the starboard to the port tack or vice versa d : a zigzag movement on land e : a course or method of action especially : one sharply divergent from that previously followed 3 : any of various usually temporary stitches 4 : the lower forward corner of a fore-and-aft sail 5 : a sticky or adhesive quality or condition tack 3 of 4 noun (2) : stable gear especially : articles of harness (such as saddle and bridle) for use on a saddle horse tack 4 of 4 noun (3) : hardtack sense 1 Did you know? Do you change tack or tact? Although some believe the word tact is short for tactics in phrases like "change tact" or "try a different tact," the correct word in such contexts is tack. Tack in "change tack" and "try a different tack" means "a course or method of action especially when sharply divergent from that previously followed.” Tack developed this meaning from its nautical applications. In sailing, tack can refer to the direction that a ship or boat is sailing in as it moves at an angle to the direction of the wind; or to a change from one direction to another direction; or to the distance traveled while sailing in a particular direction. Tack developed the "course or method of action" meaning near the end of the 17th century; within 100 or so years, the phrase "change tack" was being used with the figurative meaning it has today. While there is also a long history of people using tact where tack belongs, the use is widely shunned by usage guides, which means you might want to avoid it. Synonyms Verb add adjoin annex append subjoin Noun (1) approach fashion form how manner method methodology recipe strategy style system tactics technique way See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb She tacked a poster on the wall. A message was tacked to the board. We had to tack repeatedly as we sailed toward the harbor. Word History Etymology Verb Middle English takken, from tak Noun (1) Middle English tak fastener, rope tying down the windward corner of a sail, from Middle French (Norman dialect) taque; akin to Middle Dutch tac sharp point Noun (2) perhaps short for tackle Noun (3) origin unknown First Known Use Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun (1) 1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2) 1924, in the meaning defined above Noun (3) 1841, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing tack tack claw tie tack ticky-tack tick-tack-toe tack claw tie tack ticky-tack tick-tack-toe Kids Definition tack 1 of 2 noun ˈtak 1 : a small nail with a sharp point and usually a broad flat head 2 : the direction a ship is sailing as shown by the position the sails are set in 3 : a course or method of action Since I wasn't getting any answers, I decided to try a different tack. 4 : a temporary stitch used in sewing tack 2 of 2 verb tacked; tacking 1 : to fasten with tacks 2 : to attach or join loosely or quickly At the end of the report, she tacked on her own complaints. 3 : to change from one course to another in sailing 4 : to follow a zigzag course Legal Definition tack transitive verb : to combine (a use, possession, or period of time) with that of another especially in order to satisfy the statutory time period for acquiring title to or a prescriptive easement in the property of a third party successive adverse users in privity with prior adverse users can tack successive adverse possessions of land Hall v. Kerlee, 461 S.E.2d 911 (1995) tack 1 of 2 noun as in approach the means or procedure for doing something this clearly isn't working, so let's take a different tack in trying to solve the problem Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance approach method way strategy technique how methodology manner tactics style recipe system plan form fashion move route shift process program mode practice design line policy model step blueprint layout scheme expedient game routine plot intrigue practise game plan ground plan modus operandi tack 2 of 2 verb 1 as in to zigzag Synonyms & Similar Words zigzag veer deviate turn detour swing diverge turn off swerve wheel turn back sheer double (back) 2 as in to tie Synonyms & Similar Words tie stick pin glue screw adhere clamp strap clip harness tackle hang latch yoke rivet lash affix nail shackle staple cinch paste bolt attach toggle plaster lace clinch clasp bend hasp link clench fasten fix connect join coapt unite batten button refasten resecure reaffix refix reattach belay do up Antonyms & Near Antonyms split detach undo unhook divide separate sever unfasten disconnect break up part dissociate loosen loose divorce uncouple sunder disunite dissever unyoke untie disjoin unlink unbind disjoint unfix unlash See More Phrases Containing tack tack (on) tack (on)
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tack

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

noun (3)

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing tack

Kids Definition

noun

verb

Legal Definition

transitive verb

noun

verb

Phrases Containing tack