tack

CEFRB2

/tæk/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A small sharp nail or a change in direction.

  2. 02

    verb

    To attach with a small nail or change direction.

Examples

  • If a conversation is not going too well, try changing tack.

  • Why don't you try a different tack?

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.

  2. A thumbtack.

  3. A small nail with a flat head.

More examples

In context

  • The laminate adhesive has very aggressive tack and is hard to move once in place.

  • to tack (something) onto (something)

  • Near-synonyms: biscuit, bread

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The sailor decided to blank the boat to catch the wind from the other side.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English tak, takke (“hook; staple; nail”), from Old Northern French taque (“nail, pin, peg”), from Frankish *takkō (“twig, branch, shoot”), of unknown origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dHgʰ-n-, from the root *déHgʰ- (“to pinch; to tear, rip, fray”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Takke (“bough; branch; twig”), West Frisian takke (“branch”), tûk (“branch, smart, sharp”), Dutch tak (“twig; branch; limb”), German Zacke (“jag; prong; spike; tooth; peak”).