English▸ noun
2 a mechanism consisting of ropes, pulley blocks, hooks, or other things for lifting heavy objects.
▪ the running rigging and gear used to work a boat's sails.
3 Soccer & Hockey (in soccer and other games) an act of taking the ball, or attempting to take the ball, from an opponent:
he was only prevented from scoring by a fine tackle.
▪ American Football & Rugby an act of seizing and stopping a player in possession of the ball by knocking them to the ground.
▸ verb [with object] make determined efforts to deal with (a problem or difficult task):
police have launched an initiative to tackle rising crime.
▪ American Football & Rugby stop the forward progress of (the ball carrier) by seizing them and knocking them to the ground.
▪ mainly Soccer try to take the ball from (an opponent) by intercepting them.
– ORIGIN Middle English (denoting equipment for a specific task): probably from Middle Low German takel, from taken ‘lay hold of’. Early senses of the verb (late Middle English) described the provision and handling of a ship's equipment.