1. tangle(n = noun.object) Array - a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven; "they carved their way through the tangle of vines"
is a kind of natural object
has particulars: hair ball, hairball, trichobezoar, shag
Derived forms verb tangle4, verb tangle3
2. tangle(n = noun.cognition) maze, snarl - something jumbled or confused; "a tangle of government regulations"
is a kind of perplexity
Derived form verb tangle2
1. tangle(v = verb.stative) drag, drag in, embroil, sweep, sweep up - force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action; "They were swept up by the events"; "don't drag me into this business"
is one way to involve
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s somebody; Somebody ----s somebody PP
2. tangle(v = verb.contact) knot, ravel - tangle or complicate; "a ravelled story"
is one way to enlace, entwine, interlace, intertwine, lace, twine
Derived form noun tangle2
Sample sentences:
Something ----s; Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s something PP
3. tangle(v = verb.contact) dishevel, tousle - disarrange or rumple; dishevel; "The strong wind tousled my hair"
is one way to disarrange
Derived form noun tangle1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something
4. tangle(v = verb.contact) entangle, mat, snarl - twist together or entwine into a confusing mass; "The child entangled the cord"
is one way to distort, twine, twist
Derived form noun tangle1
Sample sentences:
They tangle their hair
1. To unite or knit together confusedly; to interweave or interlock, as threads, so as to make it difficult to unravel the knot; to entangle; to ravel. [1913 Webster]
2. To involve; to insnare; to entrap; as, to be tangled in lies. Milton. [1913 Webster]
"When my simple weakness strays,
Tangled in forbidden ways." [1913 Webster]
To be entangled or united confusedly; to get in a tangle. [1913 Webster]
1. Any large blackish seaweed, especially the
"Coral and sea fan and tangle, the blooms and the palms of the ocean." [1913 Webster]
2. A knot of threads, or other thing, united confusedly, or so interwoven as not to be easily disengaged; a snarl; as, hair or yarn in tangles; a tangle of vines and briers. Used also figuratively. [1913 Webster]
3. An instrument consisting essentially of an iron bar to which are attached swabs, or bundles of frayed rope, or other similar substances, -- used to capture starfishes, sea urchins, and other similar creatures living at the bottom of the sea. [1913 Webster]
tangle, v. & n.
--v.
1 a tr. intertwine (threads or hairs etc.) in a confused mass; entangle. b intr. become tangled.
2 intr. (foll. by with) colloq. become involved (esp. in conflict or argument) with (don't tangle with me).
3 tr. complicate (a tangled affair).
--n.
1 a confused mass of intertwined threads etc.
2 a confused or complicated state (be in a tangle; a love tangle).
tangle, n. any of various seaweeds, esp. of the genus Laminaria or Fucus.
Etymology:
prob. f. Norw. taangel f. ON th{ouml}ngull
VB derange, disarrange, misarrange, displace, misplace, mislay, discompose, disorder, deorganize, discombobulate, disorganize, embroil, unsettle, disturb, confuse, trouble, perturb, jumble, tumble, shuffle, randomize, huddle, muddle, toss, hustle, fumble, riot, bring into disorder, put into disorder, throw into disorder, muss, break the ranks, disconcert, convulse, break in upon, unhinge, dislocate, put out of joint, throw out of gear, turn topsy-turvy, bedevil, complicate, involve, perplex, confound, imbrangle, embrangle, tangle, entangle, ravel, tousle, towzle, dishevel, ruffle, rumple, litter, scatter, mix, rearrange.
VB cross, decussate, intersect, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, interdigitate, interlink, twine, entwine, weave, inweave, twist, wreathe, anastomose, inosculate, dovetail, splice, link, lace, tat, mat, plait, plat, braid, felt, twill, tangle, entangle, ravel, net, knot, dishevel, raddle.