tangle

¹

[ tang-guhl ]

verb (used with object)

, tan·gled, tan·gling.

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.

verb (used without object)

, tan·gled, tan·gling.

1. to be or become tangled.
2. Informal. to come into conflict; fight or argue:

   I don't want to tangle with him over the new ruling.

noun

1. a tangled condition or situation.
2. a tangled or confused mass or assemblage of something.
3. a confused jumble:

   a tangle of contradictory statements.

   Synonyms: fight, dispute, argument, altercation, maze, labyrinth, snarl

4. Informal. a conflict; disagreement:

   He got into a tangle with the governor.

tangle

²

[ tang-guhl ]

noun

1. any of several large seaweeds of the genus Laminaria.

tangle

¹

/ ˈtæŋɡəl /

noun

1. a confused or complicated mass of hairs, lines, fibres, etc, knotted or coiled together
2. a complicated problem, condition, or situation

verb

1. to become or cause to become twisted together in a confused mass
2. introften foll bywith to come into conflict; contend

   to tangle with the police

3. tr to involve in matters which hinder or confuse

   to tangle someone in a shady deal

4. tr to ensnare or trap, as in a net

tangle

²

/ ˈtæŋɡəl /

noun

1. alternative names (esp Scot) for oarweed

Derived Forms

• ˈtangler, noun
• ˈtanglement, noun
• ˈtangly, adjective

Other Words From

• tangle·ment noun
• tangler noun
• tangly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tangle¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tangilen, tagilen “to entangle,” probably from a Scandinavian language; compare Swedish (dialect) taggla “to disarrange”

Origin of tangle²

First recorded in 1530–40; from a Scandinavian language; compare Old Norse thǫngull “strand of tangle,” Norwegian tang

Word History and Origins

Origin of tangle¹

C14 tangilen, variant of tagilen, probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish dialect taggla to entangle

Origin of tangle²

C16: of Scandinavian origin: compare Danish tang seaweed

Example Sentences

Overhead, beyond a tangle of power lines, a long-winged bird made lazy circles in the sky.

From Los Angeles Times

In the weeks since his ruling, Carter has wrestled with a tangle of unresolved questions about how this all would play out.

From Los Angeles Times

Reeves will set out how she plans to meet a raft of manifesto promises against a tangle of self-imposed restrictions on borrowing, spending and debt.

From BBC

This tangle of mourning, recovery and tourism has many travelers wondering if it’s possible or respectful to spend a vacation on Maui now.

From Los Angeles Times

When ILA supporters haven’t had to fend off complaints from observers about their demands and the strike calendar, they’ve had to tangle with another inconvenient talking point: the whole mob thing.

From Slate

Related Words

• confuse
• embroil
• enmesh
• entangle
• perplex
• snarl
• tie up
• trap