I. ˈtak noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English tak; akin to Middle Low German tacke pointed instrument, sharp point, Middle Dutch tac
1.
a. obsolete : a small hooked, knobbed, or pointed device of metal for fastening one thing to another: as
(1) : buckle
(2) : a hook fitting into an eye
(3) : nail
b. : a small short sharp-pointed nail usually having a broad flat head ; especially : one for affixing a light object or material to a solid surface
a carpet tack
a thumb tack
c. : a strip binding stalks (as to a wall) in gardening
d. : an ear on a pipe for fastening it (as to a wall)
2. chiefly dialect : the ability to hold on, last, or endure : stability , endurance
3.
a. : a rope to hold in place the forward lower corner of a course on a sailing ship — compare sheet
b. : a rope for hauling the outer lower corner of a studding sail to the end of the boom
c. : the lower forward corner of a fore-and-aft sail
d. : the corner of a sail to which a tack is fastened (as the weather clew of a square sail)
4.
a. : the direction of a ship with respect to the trim of her sails
the starboard tack
the port tack
b. : the run of a sailing ship on one tack
the ship sailed well on that last tack
c. : a change when close-hauled from the starboard to the port tack or vice versa
made two tacks in rounding the point
d. : a zigzag movement on land
watched for openings and got through the dense crowd in a series of tacks
e. : a course or method of action ; especially : one sharply divergent from that previously taken or followed
go off on the wrong tack
try a new tack
kept changing the tack of your questions — B.V.Dryer
5.
a. : a tying or fastening especially of a temporary kind
b. : any of various usually temporary stitches: as
(1) : tailor's tack
(2) : bar tack
c. Britain : a supplement or rider especially to a parliamentary bill
d. : a short deposit for holding the sections of a joint in place in welding
6.
a. : the quality or state of sticking or adhering : adhesiveness , stickiness
the tack of a paint
the tack of ink
tape with good tack
b. : the property of raw rubber or compounded rubber stock of adhering firmly when layers are pressed together
7. : stable gear
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English takken, from tak, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to join or hold together : attach
tack on a fragment of black cloth for an eye — Farmer's Weekly ( South Africa )
especially : to nail, pin, or affix with tacks
tacking down a stairway carpet
tack a notice on a bulletin board
tacking upholstery
b. archaic : to join in matrimony : hitch 2c
tack me first; my love is waiting — R.B.Sheridan
c. : to join (things that are separated) by a linking part : connect
islands tacked together by … bridges — John Evelyn
at this common point … the two routes may be tacked — S.H.Lynne
2. : to attach or join slightly or only at separated points for a temporary purpose: as
a. : to join (two pieces of metal) by drops of solder
b. : to stitch together lightly (two pieces of cloth) : baste
tack the pleat in position at the hemline
3.
a. : to add, attach, or join as a usually inappropriate or arbitrary complement : link , tie
themes loosely and rather aimlessly tacked together
— usually used with to or on
a weak, spotty piece of music tacked to an absurd, garish drama — Alfred Frankenstein
tacked on to escape a banal conclusion — Anthony Quinton
b.
(1) : to add or attach to as a supplement : annex — usually used with on or onto
tacked it on as an afterthought
tack an extra dollar onto the price
one large studio with three … little rooms tacked onto it — Aldous Huxley
(2) : to add (a rider) to a parliamentary bill : append — usually used with to, on, or onto
a provision … tacked to a supply bill — T.E.May
get the measure through the legislature by tacking it onto an appropriation bill
4.
a. English law : to unite or join (securities given at different times) so as to prevent a person having intermediate securities or rights from claiming a title to redeem or otherwise discharge one or more prior ones without also redeeming or discharging one or more subsequent ones united to the prior ones
b. : to add on (a period of disability or adverse possession by one person to that of another immediately preceding or following and in privity with him)
5.
a. : to change the direction of (a sailing ship) when sailing close-hauled by putting the helm alee and shifting the sails so that it will come up into the wind and then fall off on the other side until it proceeds at about the same angle to the wind as before
b. : to navigate (a sailing ship) by a series of tacks
often he had tacked a monstrous ship of the line in heavy weather — C.S.Forester
— compare wear
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to change the direction of a sailing ship
b. of a sailing ship : to move in a different direction through the shifting of the helm to leeward so that the wind strikes the sails from the other side
tacked along smoothly with the onshore breeze — H.H.Martin
2.
a. : to follow a zigzag course : angle V 2
rode scornfully on, tacking from side to side — Angela Thirkell
b. : to modify abruptly (as a policy or an attitude) especially for reasons of expediency : shift
tacking temporarily in her aggressive designs but hoping to push on directly again later
3. : to associate oneself with or follow closely after a person : tag along
thought you wouldn't mind my tacking on to you — C.S.Lewis
•
- tack down wind
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English tak, from taken to take — more at take
1. chiefly Scotland : a contract by which the use of something is set or let for hire : lease
2. chiefly Scotland : pasture land hired usually by the week, month, or quarter
3. chiefly Scotland : a catch of fish : haul , take
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
dialect England : a distinctive flavor especially when unpleasant
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
: stuff
we should be jawing about … some such tack — D.H.Lawrence
especially : foodstuff
salt junk and weevily tack give way to soggy baker's bread — E.J.Schoettle