Library / English Dictionary

TACKLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(American football) a position on the line of scrimmage

Example:

it takes a big man to play tackle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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 3

Meaning:

Gear used in fishing

Synonyms:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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"):

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)

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

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:

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

Synonyms:

rigging; tackle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

The person who plays that position on a football team

Example:

the right tackle is a straight A student

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

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)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put a harness

Example:

harness the horse

Synonyms:

harness; tackle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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:

Accept as a challenge

Example:

I'll tackle this difficult task

Synonyms:

tackle; take on; undertake

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

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

Credits

 Context examples: 

One way to tackle this is to block the gene expression pathway, limiting the production of these proteins.

(Nanoparticles used to transport anti-cancer agent to cells, University of Cambridge)

Cutting meat consumption is one of three strategies that an international team of scientists recommends to tackle the rising problem of antibiotic resistance stemming from abundant use in animal farming.

(Eat less meat to cut drug resistance, SciDev.Net)

"That's a good sign. He's no fool. Don't dast tackle me so long as I got that club handy. He's not clean crazy, sure."

(White Fang, by Jack London)

It was apparent that she did not want to sleep, so I tackled the subject at once:—You do not want to go to sleep?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He walked on first, carrying a part of the fishing tackle, and his companions followed him at some distance.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Tackling the illegal occupation problem is among the most urgent demands to be addressed in order to bring all units under the federal government.

(Brazilian savanna unprotected, study finds, Agência Brasil)

The fellow was an ingenious workman, and by my instructions, in ten days, finished a pleasure-boat with all its tackling, able conveniently to hold eight Europeans.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Whether it’s passing, or tackling, or dribbling, there’s no one to touch him, and then, he’s got the head, and can hold us all together.

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

Tackling the problem is tricky for various reasons: for example, victims are often in remote areas and need treatment fast; health workers cannot easily identify the culprit with certainty; and anti-venom treatments are expensive.

(Snakebite resolution set for Health Assembly approval, SciDev.Net)

All next day, he was occupied in disposing of his fishing-boat and tackle; in packing up, and sending to London by waggon, such of his little domestic possessions as he thought would be useful to him; and in parting with the rest, or bestowing them on Mrs. Gummidge.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)