entangle
verb /ɪnˈtæŋɡl/
/ɪnˈtæŋɡl/
[usually passive]Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they entangle | /ɪnˈtæŋɡl/ /ɪnˈtæŋɡl/ |
| he / she / it entangles | /ɪnˈtæŋɡlz/ /ɪnˈtæŋɡlz/ |
| past simple entangled | /ɪnˈtæŋɡld/ /ɪnˈtæŋɡld/ |
| past participle entangled | /ɪnˈtæŋɡld/ /ɪnˈtæŋɡld/ |
| -ing form entangling | /ɪnˈtæŋɡlɪŋ/ /ɪnˈtæŋɡlɪŋ/ |
- to make somebody/something become caught or twisted in something
- be/become entangled (in/with something) The bird had become entangled in the wire netting.
- to involve somebody in a difficult or complicated situation
- be/become entangled in something He became entangled in a series of conflicts with the management.
- be/get entangled with somebody She didn't want to get entangled (= emotionally involved) with him.
Word Originlate Middle English (formerly also as intangle): from en-, in- (as an intensifier) + tangle.