Tack: meaning, definitions and examples
⚓
tack
[ tæk ]
sailing
A small, sharp, pointed nail with a flat head, used especially for fastening carpet, cloth, or paper.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- He hammered in the tack to secure the cloth in place.
- She accidentally stepped on a tack and hurt her foot.
sailing
To change the direction of a sailing vessel by turning its bow into and through the wind.
Synonyms
alter course, change direction, zigzag
Examples of usage
- The captain decided to tack to avoid the oncoming storm.
- They had to tack multiple times to navigate through the narrow channel.
Translations
Translations of the word "tack" in other languages:
🇵🇹 tachinha
🇮🇳 कील
🇩🇪 Reißzwecke
🇮🇩 paku
🇺🇦 канцелярська кнопка
🇵🇱 pinezka
🇯🇵 画鋲 (がびょう)
🇫🇷 punaises
🇪🇸 chincheta
🇹🇷 raptiye
🇰🇷 압정 (apjeong)
🇸🇦 دبوس
🇨🇿 špendlík
🇸🇰 špendlík
🇨🇳 图钉 (túdīng)
🇸🇮 risalni žebljiček
🇮🇸 teiknibóla
🇰🇿 канцелярия түйреуіш
🇬🇪 სამაგრი
🇦🇿 pinqanad
🇲🇽 chincheta
Word origin
The word 'tack' originated from Middle English 'tak' which means 'fastening'. It has been used in the context of sailing for centuries, referring to the act of changing the direction of a sailing vessel by turning it into and through the wind. The noun form of 'tack' referring to a small, sharp nail with a flat head has also been in use since the 14th century.