tactics

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The military science that deals with securing objectives set by strategy, especially the technique of deploying and directing troops, ships, and aircraft in effective maneuvers against an enemy: Tactics is a required course at all military academies.
2. n. Maneuvers used against an enemy: Guerrilla tactics were employed during most of the war.
3. n. A procedure or set of maneuvers engaged in to achieve an end, an aim, or a goal.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The science or art of disposing military or naval forces in order for battle, and performing military or naval manœuvers or evolutions.
2. n. Expedients for effecting a purpose; plan or mode of procedure with reference to advantage or success; used absolutely, artful or skilful devices for gaining an end.
3. n. The art of inventing and making machines for throwing missile weapons.

Wiktionary

1. n. military The military science that deals with achieving the objectives set by strategy.
2. n. military Manoeuvres used against an enemy.
3. n. Plural form of tactic.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The science and art of disposing military and naval forces in order for battle, and performing military and naval evolutions. It is divided into grand tactics, or the tactics of battles, and elementary tactics, or the tactics of instruction.
2. n. Hence, any system or method of procedure.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the branch of military science dealing with detailed maneuvers to achieve objectives set by strategy
2. n. a plan for attaining a particular goal