From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtacktack1 /tæk/ noun 1 nail [countable]D a small nail with a sharp point and a flat top2 pin [countable] American EnglishD a short pin with a large round flat top, for attaching notices to boards, walls etc SYN thumbtack, drawing pin British English3 way of doing somethingDIFFERENT [countable, uncountable] the way you deal with a particular situation or a method that you use to achieve something If that doesn’t work, we’ll try a different tack. Rudy changed tack, his tone suddenly becoming friendly.4 shipTTW a) [countable, uncountable] the direction that a sailing boat moves, depending on the direction of the wind and the position of its sails b) [countable] the action of changing the direction of a sailing boat, or the distance it travels between these changes a long tack into the bay5 horses [uncountable] technicalDSH the equipment you need for riding a horse, such as a saddle etc 6 sewing [countable]DLH a long loose stitch used for fastening pieces of cloth together before sewing them7 ugly objects [uncountable] British EnglishCHEAP ugly cheap objects sold as decorations souvenir shops full of tack
Examples from the Corpus
tack• The horse was immaculate, mane braided, tack buffed to perfection.• Bristle brushes, tacks, and candles got similar treatment.• Last year, Krenning decided to try a new tack.• Once on the new side, the rig should be thrown well forwards to complete the turn on to the new tack.• Johnnie found the tacks in the bottom drawer and, whirling on her heels, marched out of the kitchen.• She wasn't on the wooden horse or in the yard or in the tack room.changed tack• Instead, the firm changed tack.• Then he changed tack and asked us if we had any problems with his friends.• Then it changed tack, slewing around slightly.• Nigel changed tack and his tone became more accommodating.• Eudo had replied through swollen, bloody lips that he knew nothing, so the questioners changed tack.• Although the record initially had the band's approval, they soon changed tack when the implications were realised.• In the second half, he suddenly changed tack.tacktack2 verb 1 [transitive always + adverb/preposition]FASTEN/DO UP to attach something to a wall, board etc, using a tacktack something to something A handwritten note was tacked to the wall.2 [intransitive]TTW to change the course of a sailing ship so that the wind blows against its sails from the opposite direction3 [transitive]DCDLH to fasten pieces of cloth together with long loose stitches, before sewing them → tack something ↔ on→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
tack• Always nice that they tack a little contest on to the end of a week like this.• When all the pleats have been tacked in place, check that the finished width equals the length of the valance rail.• Seagate Technology tacked on 7 / 8 to 47 3 / 4, having traded as high as 49 in the session.• Environmental protection can not be tacked on to the end of industrial development.• They hung at the end of slender wrists and looked as if they had been tacked on to the wrong person.• They would search the woods behind the house, and Nockerd would tack the chicken wire tighter around the cage.• Then firmly tack the seam, leaving the needles in place, to hold the layers together.• A few charcoal sketches were tacked to the walls.tack something to something• The handwritten note was tacked to the wall.Origin tack1 1. (1300-1400) Old North French taque “fastening”2. (1700-1800) → TACKLE23. (1900-2000) tacky 