tack

Plural: tacks

Noun

the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails
a short nail with a sharp point and a large head
gear for a horse
(nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind
(nautical) the act of changing tack
sailing a zigzag course
A small nail with a flat head.
A thumbtack.
A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.
The lower corner on the leading edge of a sail relative to the direction of the wind.
A course or heading that enables a sailing vessel to head upwind.
A direction or course of action, especially a new one; a method or approach to solving a problem.
The maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow through the wind so that the wind changes from one side to the other.
The distance a sailing vessel runs between these maneuvers when working to windward; a board.
A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is close-hauled; also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom.
Any of the various equipment and accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals.
The stickiness of a compound, related to its cohesive and adhesive properties.
Food generally; fare, especially of the hard bread or breadlike kind.
That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix.
Confidence; reliance.
A stain; a tache.
A peculiar flavour or taint.
That which is tacky; something cheap and gaudy.
A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.

Verb

Verb Forms: tacked, tacking, tacks

To fasten with small nails or to change course abruptly.
fasten with tacks
- "tack the notice on the board"
turn into the wind
- "The sailors decided to tack the boat"
- "The boat tacked"
create by putting components or members together
- "He tacked together some verses"
sew together loosely, with large stitches
fix to; attach
reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
To nail (something) with a tack (small nail with a flat head).
To sew/stitch with a tack (loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth).
To weld with initial small welds to temporarily fasten in preparation for full welding.
To maneuver a sailing vessel so that its bow turns through the wind, i.e. the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other.
To sail to windward using a series of alternate tacks across the wind.
To add something as an extra item.
Synonym of tack up (“to prepare a horse for riding by equipping it with a tack”).
To join in wedlock.

Examples

He decided to TACK on a new word to an existing one, hoping to extend his score.
The laminate adhesive has very aggressive tack and is hard to move once in place.
to tack (something) onto (something)

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English tak, takke (“hook; staple; nail”), from Old Northern French taque (“nail, pin, peg”), from Frankish *takkō, from Proto-Germanic *takkô (“tip; point; protrusion; prong; tine; jag; spike; twig”), 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”).

Synonyms

alternate, append, assemble, baste, flip, flip-flop, hang on, interchange, mainsheet, piece, put together, saddlery, set up, sheet, shroud, stable gear, switch, tack on, tack together, tacking, tag on, wear round, weather sheet, beat, change tack, coming about, tack up, tack weld#Verb

Antonyms

disassemble, run, wear

Scrabble Score: 10

tack: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
tack: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
tack: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

tack: valid Words With Friends Word