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, adverbWords nearby tangle
tangible,
tangier,
tangier disease,
tangier zone,
tangka,
tangle,
tangleberry,
tangled,
tanglewood,
tango,
tangor
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, 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