tackle

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈtækəl/ or [ˈtʰækɫ̩]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: tack‧le

Verb

Plain form tackle

Third-person singular tackles

Past tense tackled

Past participle tackled

Present participle tackling

A player being tackled in football

1. (transitive) If you tackle a problem, issue, question, etc., you try to solve it.

   We want an executive who solves problems and tackles issues.

2. (transitive) If you tackle a person, you jump on them and pull them to the ground, usually in sports such as American football.
3. (transitive) If you tackle a person in soccer, you take the ball from them.

Synonyms

stop begin face throw attack challenge

grab attempt confront block grasp

Noun

Singular tackle

Plural tackles

1. (countable) A tackle is an attempt to pull somebody to the ground, usually in sports such as American football.

   Gaines Adams put constant pressure on the Atlanta quarterback and finished the game with six tackles and two sacks.

   Briggs leads the team with 31 solo tackles.

2. (countable) A tackle is an attempt to take the ball from somebody in sports such as soccer.
3. (countable) A tackle is a position in American football (see diagram below).

   Georgia defensive tackle Kade Weston has been out the past two games with an injured knee.

   He was by far the best left tackle to have played the game in the 24 years.

4. (uncountable) Fishing tackle is the equipment used to catch fish.

   He gathered his camp supplies including fishing tackle.

   He pulled out shotguns and rifles in padded cases, fishing rods, and a tackle box.

5. (countable & uncountable); (singular) A block and tackle is a system of ropes and pulleys used to lift heavy weights.

Synonyms

• attack
• equipment
• challenge
• block
• tools
• gear

• 
  The red boxes show the position of defensive tackles in American football.
• 
  The red circles show the position of offensive tackles in American football.
• 
  A block and tackle
• 
  Fishing tackle