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

The tangled wars in Sudan, Ethiopia and their neighbours cry out for bold action - and if he were so minded, Trump might cut the Gordian Knot.

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

Fountain House says its clubhouses save money by avoiding costs for preventable hospitalizations, unemployment and tangles with the justice system that people suffer without such support.

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

Overhead, a web of tangled cables weaves between buildings, and if you pause to look up, you’ll almost certainly find a cat lounging above you.

From Salon

Related Words

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