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

Origin of tangle

1
1300–50; Middle English tangilen, tagilen to entangle < Scandinavian; compare Swedish (dial.) taggla to disarrange

OTHER WORDS FROM tangle

tan·gle·ment, noun tan·gler, noun tan·gly, adverb

Definition 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

2
1530–40; < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse thǫngull strand of tangle, Norwegian tang

Example sentences 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; contend to tangle with the police
(tr) to involve in matters which hinder or confuse to tangle someone in a shady deal
(tr) to ensnare or trap, as in a net

Derived forms of tangle

tanglement, noun tangler, noun tangly, adjective

Word 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)

tangle 2

tangle weed

/ (ˈtæŋɡəl) /

noun

alternative names (esp Scot) for oarweed

Word Origin for tangle

C16: of Scandinavian origin: compare Danish tang seaweed