Tack

Definition of tack:

part of speech: noun

A short, sharp nail, with a broad head: the course of a ship in reference to the position of her sails: a lease.

part of speech: noun

A small broad- headed nail; a rope for holding down the lower corner of certain sails; the corner of the sail so held down; direction of a ship in regard to the trim, or position, of her sails; a change in a ship's direction; hence, any course or method of action.

part of speech: verb

To change the course or tack of a ship by shifting the position of the sails.

part of speech: verb

To attach or fasten, esp. in a slight manner, as by tacks.

part of speech: verb

To fasten by tacks; attach slightly; attach.

part of speech: verb

To change a ship's course by changing the position of the sails.

part of speech: verb

To fasten with small nails; as, fasten slightly; attach; to change the course of ( a vessel) by using the helm and shifting the sails.

part of speech: verb

To change the course of a vessel by shifting the position of her sails.

part of speech: noun

A small nail; course of a ship in reference to the position of her sails.

Usage examples for tack:

• Anyone who has ever stepped on a tack knows just how Hatch felt. "The Chase of the Golden Plate", Jacques Futrelle.

• No more hard tack ' thought I; 'no salt butter, but a genuine land breakfast. "Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragoon, Volume 2 (of 2)", Charles Lever.

• Every stone, and plank and tack and nail had in it a thought of the Ethie whose coming back had been speculated upon and planned in so many different ways, but never in this way- never just as it had finally occurred, with Richard gone, and no one there to welcome her, save the servants in the kitchen, who, while she ate her solitary dinner, feeling more desolate and wretched than she had ever before felt in her life, wondered who she was, and how far they ought to go with their attentions and civilities. "Ethelyn's Mistake", Mary Jane Holmes.