tack

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

tack, n. [From an old or dialectal form of F. tache. See Techy.].

•  A stain; a tache.  [1913 Webster]
•  A peculiar flavor or taint; as, a musty tack.  Drayton.  [1913 Webster]

tack, n. [OE. tak, takke, a fastening; akin to D. tak a branch, twig, G. zacke a twig, prong, spike, Dan. takke a tack, spike; cf. also Sw. tagg prickle, point, Icel. tāg a willow twig, Ir. taca a peg, nail, fastening, Gael. tacaid, Armor. & Corn. tach; perhaps akin to E. take. Cf. Attach, Attack, Detach, Tag an end, Zigzag.].

•  A small, short, sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.  [1913 Webster]
•  That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix. See Tack, v. t., 3.  Macaulay.  [1913 Webster]

  "Some tacks had been made to money bills in King Charles's time."  [1913 Webster]
•  A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is closehauled (see Illust. of Ship); also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom.  [1913 Webster]
•  A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.  Burrill.  [1913 Webster]
•  Confidence; reliance.  Halliwell.  [1913 Webster]

Tack of a flag (Naut.), a line spliced into the eye at the foot of the hoist for securing the flag to the halyards. -- Tack pins (Naut.), belaying pins; -- also called jack pins. -- To haul the tacks aboard (Naut.), to set the courses. -- To hold tack, to last or hold out. Milton.

tack, v. t. [Cf. OD. tacken to touch, take, seize, fix, akin to E. take. See Tack a small nail.].

•  To fasten or attach.  Swift.  [1913 Webster]

  "And tacks the center to the sphere."  [1913 Webster]
•  Especially, to attach or secure in a slight or hasty manner, as by stitching or nailing; as, to tack together the sheets of a book; to tack one piece of cloth to another; to tack on a board or shingle; to tack one piece of metal to another by drops of solder.  [1913 Webster]
•  In parliamentary usage, to add (a supplement) to a bill; to append; -- often with on or to; as, to tack on a non-germane appropriation to a bill.  Macaulay.  [1913 Webster]
•  To change the direction of (a vessel) when sailing closehauled, by putting the helm alee and shifting the tacks and sails so that she will proceed to windward nearly at right angles to her former course.  [1913 Webster]

  " In tacking, a vessel is brought to point at first directly to windward, and then so that the wind will blow against the other side."  [1913 Webster]

tack, v. i. 

 To change the direction of a vessel by shifting the position of the helm and sails; also (as said of a vessel), to have her direction changed through the shifting of the helm and sails. See Tack, v. t., 4.  [1913 Webster]
"Monk, . . . when he wanted his ship to tack to larboard, moved the mirth of his crew by calling out, “Wheel to the left.”"  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tack, n. & v.
--n.
1 a small sharp broad-headed nail.
2 US a drawing-pin.
3 a long stitch used in fastening fabrics etc. lightly or temporarily together.
4 a the direction in which a ship moves as determined by the position of its sails and regarded in terms of the direction of the wind (starboard tack). b a temporary change of direction in sailing to take advantage of a side wind etc.
5 a course of action or policy (try another tack).
6 Naut. a a rope for securing the corner of some sails. b the corner to which this is fastened.
7 a sticky condition of varnish etc.
8 Brit. an extraneous clause appended to a bill in Parliament.
--v.
1 tr. (often foll. by down etc.) fasten with tacks.
2 tr. stitch (pieces of cloth etc.) lightly together.
3 tr. (foll. by to, on) annex (a thing).
4 intr. (often foll. by about) a change a ship's course by turning its head to the wind (cf. WEAR(2)). b make a series of tacks.
5 intr. change one's conduct or policy etc.
6 tr. Brit. append (a clause) to a bill.

Derivative

tacker n.

tack, n. the saddle, bridle, etc., of a horse.

Etymology

shortened f. TACKLE

THESAURUS

tack

MO, aberrancy, aberration, about ship, affix, algorithm, alter, alteration, ameliorate, annex, append, approach, articulate, attach, attack, azimuth, back and fill, back band, backstrap, baste, batten, batten down, be changed, be converted into, be renewed, bear away, bear off, bear to starboard, bearing, bearing rein, beat, beat about, bellyband, bend, bias, bind, bit, blinders, blinds, bolt, bottom out, box off, branch off, branching off, braze, break, breeching, bridle, bring about, bring round, buckle, butt, button, cant, cant round, caparison, cast, cast about, cavesson, cement, change, change course, change the bearing, change the heading, checker, checkrein, cheekpiece, chinband, chop, chop and change, cinch, circuitousness, clasp, cleat, clip, collar, combine, come about, come around, come round, compass bearing, compass direction, cordage, cording, corner, couple, course, crook, crownband, crupper, curb, curve, declination, deflection, degenerate, depart from, departure, deteriorate, detour, deviance, deviancy, deviate, deviation, deviousness, digress, digression, direction, discursion, divagate, divagation, divaricate, divarication, diverge, divergence, diversify, diversion, dogleg, double, double a point, dovetail, drift, drifting, equipage, equipment, errantry, excursion, excursus, exorbitation, fashion, fasten, fastening, fetch about, fittings, fix, flop, form, gag swivel, gear, girth, glue, go about, guise, gybe, hackamore, hairpin, halter, hames, hametugs, harness, hasp, haul around, headgear, heading, headstall, heave round, heel, hinge, hip straps, hitch, hook, improve, indirection, jam, jaquima, jerk line, jibe, jibe all standing, join, joint, kit, latch, lee side, line, line of action, lines, lock, magnetic bearing, manner, manner of working, martingale, means, meliorate, method, methodology, miss stays, miter, mitigate, mode, mode of operation, mode of procedure, modulate, modus operandi, mortise, mutate, nail, noseband, obliquity, order, outfit, paste, path, peg, pererration, pin, ply, pole strap, practice, procedure, proceeding, process, put about, put back, rabbet, rambling, reins, relative bearing, revive, ribbons, rig, rigging, rivet, ropework, roping, round a point, routine, saddle, saddlery, scarf, screw, secure, sew, shaft tug, sheer, shift, shifting, shifting course, shifting path, side check, skew, skewer, slant, slew, snaffle, snap, solder, staple, stick, stitch, straying, style, surcingle, sweep, swerve, swerving, swing round, swing the stern, swinging, system, tack on, tackle, tag on, take a turn, tangent, technique, the drill, the how, the way of, throw about, thumbtack, tie, toggle, tone, trappings, trend, true bearing, tug, turn, turn aside, turn back, turn into, turn the corner, turning, twist, undergo a change, unite, variation, vary, vector, veer, veer off, wandering, warp, way, wear, wear ship, weather side, wedge, weld, wind, winker braces, wise, worsen, yaw, yoke, zigzag, zipper

ROGET THESAURUS

tack

Method

N method, way, manner, wise, gait, form, mode, fashion, tone, guise, modus operandi, MO, procedure, path, road, route, course, line of way, line of road, trajectory, orbit, track, beat, tack, steps, stair, staircase, flight of stairs, ladder, stile, perron, bridge, footbridge, viaduct, pontoon, steppingstone, plank, gangway, drawbridge, pass, ford, ferry, tunnel, pipe, door, gateway, channel, passage, avenue, means of access, approach, adit, artery, lane, loan, alley, aisle, lobby, corridor, back-door, back-stairs, secret passage, covert way, vennel, roadway, pathway, stairway, express, thoroughfare, highway, turnpike, freeway, royal road, coach road, broad highway, King's highway, Queen's highway, beaten track, beaten path, horse road, bridle road, bridle track, bridle path, walk, trottoir, footpath, pavement, flags, sidewalk, crossroad, byroad, bypath, byway, cut, short cut carrefour, private road, occupation road, highways and byways, railroad, railway, tram road, tramway, towpath, causeway, canal, street, speedway, adv, how, in what way, in what manner, by what mode, so, in this way, after this fashion, one way or another, anyhow, somehow or other, by way of, via, in transitu, on the high road to, hae tibi erunt artes.

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Change

VB change, alter, vary, wax and wane, modulate, diversify, qualify, tamper with, turn, shift, veer, tack, chop, shuffle, swerve, warp, deviate, turn aside, evert, intervert, pass to, take a turn, turn the corner, resume, work a change, modify, vamp, superinduce, transform, transfigure, transmute, transmogrify, transume, metamorphose, ring the changes, innovate, introduce new blood, shuffle the cards, give a turn to, give a color to, influence, turn the scale, shift the scene, turn over a new leaf, recast, reverse, disturb, convert into.

Sharpness

N sharpness, acuity, acumination, spinosity, point, spike, spine, spicule, spiculum, needle, hypodermic needle, tack, nail, pin, prick, prickle, spur, rowel, barb, spit, cusp, horn, antler, snag, tag thorn, bristle, Adam's needle, bear grass, tine, yucca, nib, tooth, tusk, spoke, cog, ratchet, crag, crest, arete, cone peak, sugar loaf, pike, aiguille, spire, pyramid, steeple, beard, chevaux de frise, porcupine, hedgehog, brier, bramble, thistle, comb, awn, beggar's lice, bur, burr, catchweed, cleavers, clivers, goose, grass, hairif, hariff, flax comb, hackle, hatchel, heckle, wedge, knife edge, cutting edge, blade, edge tool, cutlery, knife, penknife, whittle, razor, razor blade, safety razor, straight razor, electric razor, scalpel, bistoury, lancet, plowshare, coulter, colter, hatchet, ax, pickax, mattock, pick, adze, gill, billhook, cleaver, cutter, scythe, sickle, scissors, shears, pruning shears, cutters, wire cutters, nail clipper, paper cutter, sword, bodkin, belduque, bowie knife, paring knife, bushwhacker, drawing knife, drawing shave, microtome, chisel, screwdriver blade, flint blade, guillotine, sharpener, hone, strop, grindstone, whetstone, novaculite, steel, emery, sharp, keen, acute, acicular, aciform, aculeated, acuminated, pointed, tapering, conical, pyramidal, mucronate, mucronated, spindle shaped, needle shaped, spiked, spiky, ensiform, peaked, salient, cusped, cuspidate, cuspidated, cornute, cornuted, cornicultate, prickly, spiny, spinous, spicular, thorny, bristling, muricated, pectinated, studded, thistly, briary, craggy, snaggy, digitated, two-edged, fusiform, dentiform, denticulated, toothed, odontoid, starlike, stellated, stelliform, sagittate, sagittiform, arrowheaded, arrowy, barbed, spurred, acinaciform, apiculate, apiculated, aristate, awned, awny, bearded, calamiform, cone-shaped, coniform, crestate, echinate, gladiate, lanceolate, lanciform, awl, awl-shaped, lance-shaped, awl- shaped, scimitar-shaped, sword-shaped, setarious, spinuliferous, subulate, tetrahedral, xiphoid, cutting, sharp edged, knife edged, sharp as a razor, keen as a razor, sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack, sharpened, set.

Direction

N direction, management, managery, government, gubernation, conduct, legislation, regulation, guidance, bossism, legislature, steerage, pilotage, reins, reins of government, helm, rudder, needle, compass, guiding star, load star, lode star, pole star, cynosure, supervision, superintendence, surveillance, oversight, eye of the master, control, charge, board of control, command, premiership, senatorship, director, chair, portfolio, statesmanship, statecraft, kingcraft, queencraft, ministry, ministration, administration, stewardship, proctorship, agency, director, directing, hegemonic, at the helm, at the head of, direction, bearing, course, vector, set, drift, tenor, tendency, incidence, bending, trending, dip, tack, aim, collimation, steering steerage, point of the compass, cardinal points, North East, South, West, N by E, ENE, NE by N, NE, rhumb, azimuth, line of collimation, line, path, road, range, quarter, line of march, alignment, allignment, air line, beeline, straight shoot, directed, directed towards, pointing towards, bound for, aligned, with alligned with, direct, straight, undeviating, unswerving, straightforward, North, Northern, Northerly, towards, on the road, on the high road to, en avant, versus, to, hither, thither, whither, directly, straight as an arrow, forwards as an arrow, point blank, in a bee line to, in a direct line to, as the crow flies, in a straight line to, in a bee line for, in a direct line for, in a straight line for, in a bee line with, in a direct line with, in a straight line with, in a line with, full tilt at, as the crow flies, before the wind, near the wind, close to the wind, against the wind, windwards, in the wind's eye, through, via, by way of, in all directions, in all manner of ways, quaquaversum, from the four winds, the shortest distance between two points is a stra.

Deviation

VB alter one's course, deviate, depart from, turn, trend, bend, curve, swerve, heel, bear off, gybe, wear, intervert, deflect, divert, divert from its course, put on a new scent, shift, shunt, draw aside, crook, warp, stray, straggle, sidle, diverge, tralineate, digress, wander, wind, twist, meander, veer, tack, divagate, sidetrack, turn aside, turn a corner, turn away from, wheel, steer clear of, ramble, rove, drift, go astray, go adrift, yaw, dodge, step aside, ease off, make way for, shy, fly off at a tangent, glance off, wheel about, face about, turn to the right about, face to the right about, waddle, go out of one's way, lose one's way.