tackle

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The equipment used in a particular activity, especially in fishing; gear.
2. n. Nautical A system of ropes and blocks for raising and lowering weights of rigging and pulleys for applying tension.
3. n. A rope and its pulley.
4. n. Sports The act of stopping an opposing player carrying the ball, especially by forcing the opponent to the ground, as in football or Rugby.
5. n. Sports The act of obstructing a player in order to cause loss of possession of the ball, as in soccer.
6. n. Football One of two offensive linemen positioned between the guard and the end on either side of the ball.
7. n. Football One of two defensive linemen positioned to the inside of either end.
8. n. Football Either of these positions.
9. v. To grab hold of and wrestle with (an opponent).
10. v. Sports To stop (an opponent carrying the ball), especially by forcing the opponent to the ground.
11. v. Sports To obstruct (a player with the ball) in order to cause loss of possession of the ball.
12. v. To engage or deal with: tackle a perplexing problem.
13. v. To harness (a horse).
14. v. Sports To tackle an opponent in possession of the ball.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A watch-tackle purchase used for stretching the backbone of an awning.
2. n. A device or appliance for grasping or clutching an object, connected with means for holding, moving, or manipulating it. This sense is seen in the phrase block and tackle, where the tackle is the rope with its hook or hooks which passes around a pulley; also in ground-tackle, plow-tackle, fishing-tackle, etc.
3. n. Hence A mechanism, or apparatus in general, for applying the power of purchase in manipulating, shifting, raising, or lowering objects or materials; a rope and pulley-block, or a combination of ropes and blocks working together, or any similar contrivance for aid in lifting or controlling anything: used either definitely or indefinitely. Tackle is varied in many ways for different uses, as on board a ship, every form or adaptation having its own special name. In a ship's tackle, the standing part is so much of the rope as remains between the sheave and the end which is secured; the running part is the part that works between the sheaves; the fall is the part laid hold of in hauling.
4. n. The windlass and its appurtenances, as used for hoisting ore from small depths; also, in general, the cages or kibbles, with their chains and hooks, for raising ore or coal.
5. n. Equipment or gear in general; a combination of appliances: used of arms and armor, harness, anglers' outfit (see fishing-tackle), many mechanical devices, etc.
6. n. The act of tackling; a seizing or grasping; grasp or hold, as of an opponent in foot-ball.
7. n. Either one of two players in the rush-line in foot-ball, stationed next to the end rushers. See rusher, 2.
8. n. Tackles formerly used in heaving down a ship, to keep her from being canted over too much.
9. n. See rolling-tackle.
10. To attach by tackle or tackling; make fast to something.
11. Specifically To hitch; harness.
12. To ensnare, as with cords or tackle; entangle.
13. To close or shut with or as if with a fastening; lock; seclude.
14. To furnish with tackle; equip with appliances, as a ship.
15. To attack or fasten upon, in the widest sense; set to work upon in any way; undertake to master, persuade, solve, perform, and so forth: as, to tackle a bully; to tackle a problem.
16. In foot-ball, to seize and stop, as a player while running with the ball: as, he was tackled when within a few feet of the goal.
17. To make an attack or seizure; specifically, to get a grasp or hold, as upon an opponent in foot-ball, to prevent him from running with the ball.

Wiktionary

1. n. nautical A system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope.
2. n. fishing, uncountable Equipment (rod, reel, line, lure, etc.) used when angling.
3. n. uncountable, informal By extension, any piece of equipment, particularly gadgetry.
4. n. sports, countable A play where a player attempts to take control over the ball from an opponent, as in rugby or football.
5. n. American football, countable A play where a defender brings the ball carrier to the ground.
6. n. countable Any instance in which one person forces another to the ground.
7. n. American football, uncountable The offensive positions between each guard and end, offensive tackle.
8. n. American football, countable A person playing that position.
9. n. American football, uncountable The defensive positions between two ends, defensive tackle.
10. n. American football, countable A person playing that position.
11. n. slang Penis.
12. v. to face or deal with attempting to overcome or fight down
13. v. sports to attempt to take away a ball
14. v. American football to bring a ball carrier to the ground

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy weights, consisting of a rope and pulley blocks; sometimes, the rope and attachments, as distinct from the block, in which case the full appratus is referred to as a block and tackle.
2. n. Any instruments of action; an apparatus by which an object is moved or operated; gear; ; formerly, specifically, weapons.
3. n. (Naut.) The rigging and apparatus of a ship; also, any purchase where more than one block is used.
4. n. (Football) An act of tackling{4}.
5. n. (Football) One of two linemen on a football team, occupying a position between the guard and an end; also, the position played by such a tackle.
6. v. To supply with tackle.
7. v. colloq. To fasten or attach, as with a tackle; to harness.
8. v. To seize; to lay hold of; to grapple
9. v. (Football) To cause the ball carrier to fall to the ground, thus ending the forward motion of the ball and the play.
10. v. To begin to deal with.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the person who plays that position on a football team
2. n. (American football) a position on the line of scrimmage
3. n. (American football) grasping an opposing player with the intention of stopping by throwing to the ground
4. v. put a harness
5. v. seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball
6. n. gear used in fishing
7. v. accept as a challenge
8. n. gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails