English▸ noun
2 a mechanism consisting of ropes, pulley blocks, hooks, or other things for lifting heavy objects.
▪ the running rigging and pulleys used to work a boat's sails.
3 Soccer Hockey an act of playing the ball, or attempting to do so, when it is in the possession of an opponent:
he was only prevented from scoring by a fine tackle.
▪ American football Rugby an act of seizing and attempting to stop a player in possession of the ball.
▸ verb [with object]
1 make determined efforts to deal with (a problem or difficult task):
police have launched an initiative to tackle rising crime.
▪ initiate discussion with (someone) about a disputed or sensitive issue:
a young man tackled him over why the council had spent money on a swimming pool.
2 Soccer Hockey try to take the ball from (an opponent) by intercepting them:
the first scoring chance came when Orrell tackled Webb
[no object] he tackled well and covered expertly.
▪ American football Rugby try to stop the forward progress of (the ball carrier) by seizing them and knocking them to the ground:
(tackling as noun) the rules state that there must be no pressure scrums or tough tackling.
– 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.