Tack Definition
tăk
tacked, tacks
noun
tacks
A short nail or pin, with a narrow shaft that is not tapered and a relatively large, flat head.
Webster's New World
The act of fastening, esp. in a slight or temporary way.
Webster's New World
A stitch for marking darts, etc. from a pattern, clipped and later removed.
Webster's New World
The part of a sail, such as the weather clew of a course, to which this rope is fastened.
American Heritage
A zigzag course, or movement in such a course.
Webster's New World
verb
tacked, tacks
To tack a sailing vessel.
Webster's New World
To fasten or attach with tacks.
Webster's New World
To attach temporarily, as by sewing with long stitches.
Webster's New World
To fasten or mark (cloth or a seam, for example) with a loose basting stitch.
American Heritage
To put together loosely and arbitrarily.
Tacked some stories together in an attempt to write a novel.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
- take a straight course
- hold a course
- straighten
- untack
- unfasten
- separate
- detach
Origin of Tack
Middle English tak fastener from Old North French taque probably of Germanic origin
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From an old or dialectal form of French tache. See techy.
From Wiktionary
Short for tackle
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Origin unknown
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Tack Is Also Mentioned In
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