tangly
gəl 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.
00:10
Tangly
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English tangilen, tagilen to entangle < Scandinavian; compare Swedish (dial.) taggla to disarrange
1300–50; Middle English tangilen, tagilen to entangle < Scandinavian; compare Swedish (dial.) taggla to disarrange
Related forms
tan·gle·ment, noun
tan·gler, noun
tan·gly, adverb
Synonyms
8. snarl, net, labyrinth, maze.
8. snarl, net, labyrinth, maze.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To tangly
Collins
World English Dictionary
tangle1 (ˈtæŋɡəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a confused or complicated mass of hairs, lines, fibres, etc, knotted or coiled together |
| 2. | a complicated problem, condition, or situation |
| —vb (often foll by with) | |
| 3. | to become or cause to become twisted together in a confused mass |
| 4. | to come into conflict; contend: to tangle with the police |
| 5. | (tr) to involve in matters which hinder or confuse: to tangle someone in a shady deal |
| 6. | (tr) to ensnare or trap, as in a net |
| [C14 tangilen, variant of tagilen, probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish dialect taggla to entangle] | |
| 'tanglement1 | |
| —n | |
| 'tangler1 | |
| —n | |
| 'tangly1 | |
| —adj | |
| tangle1 (ˈtæŋɡəl) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a confused or complicated mass of hairs, lines, fibres, etc, knotted or coiled together |
| 2. | a complicated problem, condition, or situation |
| —vb (often foll by with) | |
| 3. | to become or cause to become twisted together in a confused mass |
| 4. | to come into conflict; contend: to tangle with the police |
| 5. | (tr) to involve in matters which hinder or confuse: to tangle someone in a shady deal |
| 6. | (tr) to ensnare or trap, as in a net |
| [C14 tangilen, variant of tagilen, probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish dialect taggla to entangle] | |
| 'tanglement1 | |
| —n | |
| 'tangler1 | |
| —n | |
| 'tangly1 | |
| —adj | |
| tangle or tangle weed2 (ˈtæŋɡəl) | |
| —n | |
| alternative names (esp Scot) for oarweed | |
| [C16: of Scandinavian origin: compare Danish tang seaweed] | |
| tangle weed or tangle weed2 | |
| —n | |
| [C16: of Scandinavian origin: compare Danish tang seaweed] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
tangle
mid-14c., 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 c.1500. 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
