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tangle

 - 6 dictionary results
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tan⋅gle

1  [tang-guhl] verb, -gled, -gling, noun
Use tangle in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to bring together into a mass of confusedly interlaced or intertwisted threads, strands, or other like parts; snarl.
2. to involve in something that hampers, obstructs, or overgrows: The bushes were tangled with vines.
3. to catch and hold in or as if in a net or snare.
–verb (used without object)
4. to be or become tangled.
5. Informal. to come into conflict; fight or argue: I don't want to tangle with him over the new ruling.
–noun
6. a tangled condition or situation.
7. a tangled or confused mass or assemblage of something.
8. a confused jumble: a tangle of contradictory statements.
9. Informal. a conflict; disagreement: He got into a tangle with the governor.
Origin:
1300–50; ME tangilen, tagilen to entangle < Scand; cf. Sw (dial.) taggla to disarrange

Related forms:
tan⋅gle⋅ment, noun
tangler, noun
tangly, adverb

Synonyms:
8. snarl, net, labyrinth, maze.
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Tangle Jr. to Tangle lamps. Free Shipping at $49.99. Est. 1986.
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tan⋅gle

2  [tang-guhl]
–noun
any of several large seaweeds of the genus Laminaria.
Origin:
1530–40; < Scand; cf. ON thǫngull strand of tangle, Norw tang
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To tangle
tan·gle 1   (tāng'gəl)   
v.   tan·gled, tan·gling, tan·gles

v.   tr.

  1. To mix together or intertwine in a confused mass; snarl.

  2. To involve in hampering or awkward complications; entangle.

  3. To catch and hold in or as if in a net; entrap. See Synonyms at catch.

v.   intr.

  1. To be or become entangled.

  2. Informal To enter into argument, dispute, or conflict: tangled with the law.

n.  

  1. A confused, intertwined mass.

  2. A jumbled or confused state or condition.

  3. A state of bewilderment.

  4. Informal An argument or altercation.


[Middle English tangilen, to involve in an embarrassing situation, variant of tagilen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialectal taggla, to entangle.]
tan'gly adj.
tan·gle 2   (tāng'gəl)   
n.  A large seaweed of the genus Laminaria.

[Of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse thöngull, seaweed.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

tangle 
1340, nasalized variant of tagilen "to involve in a difficult situation, entangle," from a Scand. source (cf. dialectal Swed. taggla "to disorder," O.N. þongull "seaweed"). In ref. to material things, from 1506. Meaning "to fight with" is Amer.Eng., first recorded 1928. The noun is first recorded 1615, "a tangled condition." Tanglefoot (1859) was Western Amer.Eng. slang for "strong whiskey."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: tan·gle
Pronunciation: 'ta[ng]-g&l
Function: noun
: NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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