tangle
1[ tang-guhl ]
/ ˈtæŋ gəl /
verb (used with object), tan·gled, tan·gling.
verb (used without object), tan·gled, tan·gling.
to be or become tangled.
Informal. to come into conflict; fight or argue: I don't want to tangle with him over the new ruling.
noun
Nearby words
tangible, tangier, tangier disease, tangier zone, tangka, tangle, tangleberry, tangled, tanglewood, tango, tangor
Origin of tangle
11300–50; Middle English tangilen, tagilen to entangle < Scandinavian; compare Swedish (dial.) taggla to disarrange
Related forms
tan·gle·ment, nountan·gler, nountan·gly, adverbDefinition for tangle (2 of 2)
tangle
2[ tang-guh l ]
/ ˈtæŋ gəl /
noun
any of several large seaweeds of the genus Laminaria.
Origin of tangle
21530–40; < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse thǫngull strand of tangle, Norwegian tang
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for tangle
British Dictionary definitions for tangle (1 of 2)
tangle
1/ (ˈtæŋɡəl) /
noun
a confused or complicated mass of hairs, lines, fibres, etc, knotted or coiled together
a complicated problem, condition, or situation
verb
to become or cause to become twisted together in a confused mass
(intr often foll by with) to come into conflict; contendto tangle with the police
(tr) to involve in matters which hinder or confuseto tangle someone in a shady deal
(tr) to ensnare or trap, as in a net
Derived Forms
tanglement, nountangler, nountangly, adjectiveWord Origin for tangle
C14 tangilen, variant of tagilen, probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish dialect taggla to entangle
British Dictionary definitions for tangle (2 of 2)
Word Origin for tangle
C16: of Scandinavian origin: compare Danish tang seaweed
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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