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noun
1.
a short, sharp-pointed nail, usually with a flat, broad head.
2.
Nautical.

a rope for extending the lower forward corner of a course.
the lower forward corner of a course or fore-and-aft sail.
the heading of a sailing vessel, when sailing close-hauled, with reference to the wind direction.
a course run obliquely against the wind.
one of the series of straight runs that make up the zigzag course of a ship proceeding to windward.

3.
a course of action or conduct, especially one differing from some preceding or other course.
4.
one of the movements of a zigzag course on land.
5.
a stitch, especially a long stitch used in fastening seams, preparatory to a more thorough sewing.
6.
a fastening, especially of a temporary kind.
7.
stickiness, as of nearly dry paint or glue or of a printing ink or gummed tape; adhesiveness.
8.
the gear used in equipping a horse, including saddle, bridle, martingale, etc.
verb (used with object)
9.
to fasten by a tack or tacks:
to tack a rug to the floor.
10.
to secure by some slight or temporary fastening.
11.
to join together; unite; combine.
12.
to attach as something supplementary; append; annex (often followed by on or onto).
13.
Nautical.

to change the course of (a sailing vessel) to the opposite tack.
to navigate (a sailing vessel) by a series of tacks.

14.
to equip (a horse) with tack.
verb (used without object)
15.
Nautical.

to change the course of a sailing vessel by bringing the head into the wind and then causing it to fall off on the other side:
He ordered us to tack at once.
(of a sailing vessel) to change course in this way.
to proceed to windward by a series of courses as close to the wind as the vessel will sail.

16.
to take or follow a zigzag course or route.
17.
to change one’s course of action, conduct, ideas, etc.
18.
to equip a horse with tack (usually followed by up):
Please tack up quickly.
Idioms
19.
on the wrong tack, under a misapprehension; in error; astray:
His line of questioning began on the wrong tack.
noun
1.
a short sharp-pointed nail, usually with a flat and comparatively large head
2.
(Brit) a long loose temporary stitch used in dressmaking, etc
3.
See tailor’s-tack
4.
a temporary fastening
5.
stickiness, as of newly applied paint, varnish, etc
6.
(nautical) the heading of a vessel sailing to windward, stated in terms of the side of the sail against which the wind is pressing
7.
(nautical)

a course sailed by a sailing vessel with the wind blowing from forward of the beam
one such course or a zigzag pattern of such courses

8.
(nautical)

a sheet for controlling the weather clew of a course
the weather clew itself

9.
(nautical) the forward lower clew of a fore-and-aft sail
10.
a course of action differing from some previous course: he went off on a fresh tack
11.
on the wrong tack, under a false impression
verb
12.
(transitive) to secure by a tack or series of tacks
13.
(Brit) to sew (something) with long loose temporary stitches
14.
(transitive) to attach or append: tack this letter onto the other papers
15.
(nautical) to change the heading of (a sailing vessel) to the opposite tack
16.
(nautical) to steer (a sailing vessel) on alternate tacks
17.
(intransitive) (nautical) (of a sailing vessel) to proceed on a different tack or to alternate tacks
18.
(intransitive) to follow a zigzag route; keep changing one’s course of action
noun
1.
(informal) food, esp when regarded as inferior or distasteful See also hardtack
noun
1.

riding harness for horses, such as saddles, bridles, etc
(as modifier): the tack room

noun (Scot)
1.
a lease
2.
an area of land held on a lease
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