tackle

[ tak-uhl tey-kuhl ]

noun

1. equipment, apparatus, or gear, especially for fishing:

   fishing tackle.

2. a mechanism or apparatus, as a rope and block or a combination of ropes and blocks, for hoisting, lowering, and shifting objects or materials; purchase.
3. any system of leverage using several pulleys.
4. Nautical. the gear and running rigging for handling a ship or performing some task on a ship.
5. an act of tackling, as in football; a seizing, grasping, or bringing down.
6. Football.
   1. either of the linemen stationed between a guard and an end.
   2. the position played by this lineman.
7. (formerly) tack ¹( def 8 ).

verb (used with object)

, tack·led, tack·ling.

1. to undertake to handle, master, solve, etc.:

   to tackle a difficult problem.

2. to deal with (a person) on some problem, issue, etc.
3. to harness (a horse).
4. Football. to seize, stop, or throw down (a ball-carrier).
5. Soccer, Field Hockey. to block or impede the movement or progress of (an opponent having the ball) with the result of depriving the opponent of the ball.
6. to seize suddenly, especially in order to stop.

verb (used without object)

, tack·led, tack·ling.

1. Football. to tackle an opponent having the ball.

tackle

/ ˈteɪkəl; ˈtækəl /

noun

1. any mechanical system for lifting or pulling, esp an arrangement of ropes and pulleys designed to lift heavy weights
2. the equipment required for a particular occupation, etc

   fishing tackle

3. nautical the halyards and other running rigging aboard a vessel
4. slang.
   a man's genitals
5. sport a physical challenge to an opponent, as to prevent his progress with the ball
6. American football a defensive lineman

verb

1. tr to undertake (a task, problem, etc)
2. tr to confront (a person, esp an opponent) with a difficult proposition
3. sport (esp in football games) to challenge (an opponent) with a tackle

Derived Forms

• ˈtackler, noun

Other Words From

• tackler noun
• re·tackle verb (used with object) retackled retackling

Word History and Origins

Origin of tackle¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English takel “gear, apparatus,” from Middle Low German; akin to take

Word History and Origins

Origin of tackle¹

C13: related to Middle Low German takel ship's rigging, Middle Dutch taken to take

Example Sentences

McVay said right tackle Rob Havenstein could be sidelined again because of an ankle injury that forced him to sit out against the Dolphins.

From Los Angeles Times

The Rams have yet to play a snap with a projected line that includes Alaric Jackson at left tackle, Avila at left guard, Jonah Jackson at center, Kevin Dotson at right guard and Havenstein at right tackle.

From Los Angeles Times

“Being a big corner, you gotta press, gotta set edges, you gotta get off blocks, you gotta tackle,” Hart said.

From Los Angeles Times

Many developing countries at the talks are calling for more cash from richer nations to help them pay for their strategies to tackle climate change.

From BBC

The government wants a regulator to be able to "improve the resilience of club finances, tackle rogue owners and directors and strengthen fan engagement".

From BBC