entanglement
/ɪnˈtaŋɡ(ə)lm(ə)nt
/ /ɛnˈtaŋɡ(ə)lm(ə)nt/noun [mass noun]
1The action or fact of entangling or being entangled: many dolphins die from entanglement in fishing nets...
- Humpback recovery looks strong, but threats such as boat traffic, entanglement in fishing gear, sonar noise, and disruption of habitat and food supply remain.
- Those include pollution, boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and developments that impact on whale breeding grounds, feeding grounds, and migration routes.
- Toxic chemicals, oil spills, entanglement in fishing gear and depleted habitats are among the threats to California's sea otters.
1.1 [count noun] A complicated or compromising relationship or situation: romantic entanglements...
- The storyline skips through similar romantic entanglements and political intrigues, en route to another happy ending.
- Romantic and political entanglements begin to reveal themselves, exposing the secrets and baroque relationships among the townsfolk.
- Given the single status of most of the characters, the plots naturally involve romantic entanglements and explicit sexual dialogue and situations.
Synonyms
involvement, complication, mix-up, adventure, undertaking
affair, relationship, love affair, romance, fling, flirtation, dalliance, liaison, involvement, attachment, affair of the heart, intrigue;
relations;
French affaire, affaire de/du cœur, amour
informal hanky-panky
British informal carry-on
1.2 [count noun] An extensive barrier, typically made of barbed wire and stakes, erected to impede enemy soldiers or vehicles: the attackers were caught up on wire entanglements...
- Due to shortages of iron and steel barbed wire entanglements were erected using wood posts hammered into the ground.
- In modern French, the term has come to be used for portable barbed wire entanglements.
- It could have been the result of the considerable activity then going on along the coastline by defence preparations, with the laying of landmines and barbed wire entanglements.