tack

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   fasten with tacks

   tack the notice on the board

2. 2
   verb

   turn into the wind

   The sailors decided to tack the boat

3. 3
   noun

   A small nail with a flat head.

   A tough test for even the strongest climber, it was new to the Tour de France this year, but its debut will be remembered for the wrong reasons after one of those spectators scattered carpet tacks on the road and induced around 30 punctures among the group of riders including Bradley Wiggins, the Tour's overall leader, and his chief rivals.

4. 4
   noun

   A direction or course of action, especially a new one; a method or approach to solving a problem.

   So stoutly held to tack by those near North-wales men;

5. 5
   noun

   The stickiness of a compound, related to its cohesive and adhesive properties.

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

6. 6
   noun

   Food generally; fare, especially of the hard bread or breadlike kind.

   Near-synonyms: biscuit, bread

7. 7
   noun

   That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix.

   Some tacks had been made to money bills in King Charles's time.

8. 8
   noun

   Confidence; reliance.

   He should find[…]that there was tack in it, that it was solid silver, or silver that had strength in it.

Etymology

From Middle English tak, take (“fee, tax (on livestock)”), from Old Norse tak, taka (“a taking, seizure; revenue”), from Old Norse taka (“to take”). Cognate with Scots tack.