/ ˈtæŋgl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a twisted mass of threads, hair, etc. that cannot be easily separated :
a tangle of branches
Her hair was a mass of tangles.
2.
a state of confusion or lack of order :
His financial affairs are in a tangle.
3.
( informal ) a disagreement or fight
■ verb
tangle (sth) up to twist sth into an untidy mass; to become twisted in this way :
[ vn ]
She had tangled up the sheets on the bed as she lay tossing and turning.
[also v ]
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- tangle with sb/sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense entangle, catch in a tangle ): probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish dialect taggla disarrange.