tack

Definitions

1. 1noun

   A stain; a tache.

2. 2noun

   A peculiar flavor or taint; as, a musty tack.

3. 3noun

   A small, short, sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.

4. 4noun

   That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix. See Tack. t., 3.

5. 5transitive verb

   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.

6. 6transitive verb

   The part of a sail to which the tack is usually fastened; the foremost lower corner of fore-and-aft sails, as of schooners (See Illust. of Sail).

7. 7transitive verb

   The direction of a vessel in regard to the trim of her sails; as, the starboard tack, or port tack; -- the former when she is closehauled with the wind on her starboard side; hence, the run of a vessel on one tack; also, a change of direction.

8. 8transitive verb

   A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.

9. 9transitive verb

   Confidence; reliance.

10. 10transitive verb

    To fasten or attach.

11. 11transitive verb

    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.

12. 12transitive verb

    In parliamentary usage, to add (a supplement) to a bill; to append; -- often with on or to.

13. 13transitive verb

    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.

14. 14intransitive verb

    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. t., 4.

15. 15noun

    sailing a zigzag course

16. 16noun

    (nautical) the act of changing tack

    Synonyms

    tacking
17. 17noun

    (nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind

    Synonyms

    mainsheetsheetshroud
18. 18noun

    gear for a horse

    Synonyms

    saddlery
19. 19noun

    a short nail with a sharp point and a large head

20. 20noun

    the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails

21. 21verb

    reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)

    Synonyms

    alternateflipinterchangeswitch
22. 22verb

    fix to; attach

    "append a charm to the necklace"

    Synonyms

    append
23. 23verb

    sew together loosely, with large stitches

    "baste a hem"

    Synonyms

    baste
24. 24verb

    fasten with tacks

    "tack the notice on the board"

25. 25verb

    create by putting components or members together

    "She pieced a quilt"

    "He tacked together some verses"

    Synonyms

    assemblepiece
26. 26verb

    turn into the wind

    "The sailors decided to tack the boat"

    "The boat tacked"