TACKLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tackle mean? 

• TACKLE (noun)
  The noun TACKLE has 5 senses:

1. the person who plays that position on a football team

2. gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails

3. gear used in fishing

4. (American football) a position on the line of scrimmage

5. (American football) grasping an opposing player with the intention of stopping by throwing to the ground

  Familiarity information: TACKLE used as a noun is common.

• TACKLE (verb)
  The verb TACKLE has 3 senses:

1. accept as a challenge

2. put a harness

3. seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball

  Familiarity information: TACKLE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TACKLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The person who plays that position on a football team

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

the right tackle is a straight A student

Hypernyms ("tackle" is a kind of...):

lineman (one of the players on the line of scrimmage)

Derivation:

tackle (seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

rigging; tackle

Hypernyms ("tackle" is a kind of...):

appurtenance; gear; paraphernalia (equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Gear used in fishing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

fishing gear; fishing rig; fishing tackle; rig; tackle

Hypernyms ("tackle" is a kind of...):

appurtenance; gear; paraphernalia (equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.)

Meronyms (parts of "tackle"):

gig (a cluster of hooks (without barbs) that is drawn through a school of fish to hook their bodies; used when fish are not biting)

Meronyms (members of "tackle"):

landing net (a bag-shaped fishnet on a long handle to take a captured fish from the water)

spinner (fisherman's lure; revolves when drawn through the water)

fishgig; fizgig; gig; lance; spear (an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish)

reel (winder consisting of a revolving spool with a handle; attached to a fishing rod)

harpoon (a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it)

gaff (an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish)

fishing pole; fishing rod (a rod of wood or steel or fiberglass that is used in fishing to extend the fishing line)

fishing line (a length of cord to which the leader and float and sinker and hook are attached)

fishhook (a sharp barbed hook for catching fish)

bob; bobber; bobfloat; cork (a small float usually made of cork; attached to a fishing line)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(American football) a position on the line of scrimmage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

it takes a big man to play tackle

Hypernyms ("tackle" is a kind of...):

lineman ((American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed on the line of scrimmage)

Holonyms ("tackle" is a member of...):

eleven; football team (a team that plays football)

Sense 5

Meaning:

(American football) grasping an opposing player with the intention of stopping by throwing to the ground

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("tackle" is a kind of...):

football play ((American football) a play by the offensive team)

Domain category:

American football; American football game (a game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays)

Derivation:

tackle (seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball)

• TACKLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tackle    ... he / she / it tackles   
Past simple: tackled   
Past participle: tackled   
-ing form: tackling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Accept as a challenge

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

tackle; take on; undertake

Context example:

I'll tackle this difficult task

Hypernyms (to "tackle" is one way to...):

confront; face; face up (deal with (something unpleasant) head on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tackle"):

rise (exert oneself to meet a challenge)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put a harness

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

harness; tackle

Context example:

harness the horse

Hypernyms (to "tackle" is one way to...):

attach (cause to be attached)

Domain category:

animal husbandry (breeding and caring for farm animals)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tackle"):

inspan (attach a yoke or harness to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "tackle" is one way to...):

aggress; attack (take the initiative and go on the offensive)

Domain category:

football; football game (any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

tackle ((American football) grasping an opposing player with the intention of stopping by throwing to the ground)

tackle (the person who plays that position on a football team)

tackler (a football player who tackles the ball carrier)

 Context examples 

These are only some examples of a big goal you may want to take on—you may think of one you’d like to tackle that I haven’t listed.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

But, at the right moment, I passed the tackle to the Kanaka, while Wolf Larsen did the same thing forward to Kerfoot.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"I used to chase a lot before I tackled the books. But since then there's no time."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But as to your ideas that the man had robbed the house before William tackled him, I think it a most absurd notion.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The problem of dead zones has been known about for decades, but little has been done to tackle it.

(Oceans running out of oxygen at unprecedented rate, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Some experts say that technology is not enough to tackle the problem and that a substantial reduction on a dependence on drugs is also needed.

(Experts Warn Prescription, Over-the-Counter Drugs Polluting World's Rivers, VOA)

“I find it hard enough to tackle facts, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies.”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But when combined with the gravel, the two-stage system became effective enough to tackle pathogens.

(Soil-based filter bricks clean up water for Moroccan farmers, SciDev.Net)

Diabetes-related ESKD – the advanced stage of chronic kidney disease – is rising faster than the overall incidence, and called for better diabetes management to tackle the problem.

(Managing diabetes key to lowering kidney disease, SciDev.Net)

With respect to its anti-obesity effects, melatonin tackles excess weight on two levels (targets).

(Study confirms melatonin helps burn calories and curbs weight gain, University of Granada)