tangle 1
— tanglement , n. — tangler , n. — tangly , adv.
/tang"geuhl/ , v. , tangled, tangling , n.
v.t.
1. to bring together into a mass of confusedly interlaced or intertwisted threads, strands, or other like parts; snarl.
2. to involve in something that hampers, obstructs, or overgrows: The bushes were tangled with vines.
3. to catch and hold in or as if in a net or snare.
v.i.
4. to be or become tangled.
5. Informal. to come into conflict; fight or argue: I don't want to tangle with him over the new ruling.
n.
6. a tangled condition or situation.
7. a tangled or confused mass or assemblage of something.
8. a confused jumble: a tangle of contradictory statements.
9. Informal. a conflict; disagreement: He got into a tangle with the governor.
[ 1300-50; ME tangilen, tagilen to entangle taggla to disarrange ]
Syn. 8. snarl, net, labyrinth, maze.
tangle 2
/tang"geuhl/ , n.
any of several large seaweeds of the genus Laminaria.
[ 1530-40; thongull strand of tangle, Norw tang ]