From Middle English tanglen, probably of North Germanic origin, compare Swedish taggla (“to disorder”), Old Norse þǫngull, þang (“tangle; seaweed”), see Etymology 2 below.
Meanings
A tangled twisted mass.
A complicated or confused state or condition.
I tried to sort through this tangle and got nowhere.
Economics is a messy discipline: too fluid to be a science, too rigorous to be an art. Perhaps it is fitting that economists’ most-used metric, gross domestic product (GDP), is a tangle too. GDP measures the total value of output in an economic territory. Its apparent simplicity explains why it is scrutinised down to tenths of a percentage point every month. 2013 August 3, “Boundary problems”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847:
An argument, conflict, dispute, or fight.
A region of the projection of a knot such that the knot crosses its perimeter exactly four times.
A paired helical fragment of tau protein found in a nerve cell and associated with Alzheimer's disease.
A form of art which consists of sections filled with repetitive patterns.
argument (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · snarl (tangled twisted mass) · snarl (complicated or confused state or condition) · mess (tangled twisted mass) · fight (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · dispute (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · knot (tangled twisted mass) · maze (complicated or confused state or condition) · conflict (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight)
Translations (58)
fr imbroglio (tangled twisted mass) · nl warboel (complicated or confused state or condition) · cs změť (complicated or confused state or condition) · bg бърканица (complicated or confused state or condition) · ga aighneas (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · is karp (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · ru неразбери́ха (tangled twisted mass) · ru ссо́ра (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · fi sotku (complicated or confused state or condition) · cs změť (tangled twisted mass) · es maraña (tangled twisted mass) · sv röra (complicated or confused state or condition) · fi tappelu (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · nl wirwar (tangled twisted mass) · ru клубо́к (complicated or confused state or condition) · mi pōkīkī (tangled twisted mass) · bg неразбория (complicated or confused state or condition) · de Wirrwarr (tangled twisted mass) · bg нещо объркано (tangled twisted mass) · fi riita (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · mk збр́ка (complicated or confused state or condition) · nl clinch (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · cs spleť (complicated or confused state or condition) · mk брка́ница (complicated or confused state or condition) · mk ка́ша (tangled twisted mass) · sv härva (tangled twisted mass) · ga tranglam (complicated or confused state or condition) · pl konflikt (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · cs spleť (tangled twisted mass) · mk су́дир (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · ru беспоря́док (tangled twisted mass) · mk брко́тија (tangled twisted mass) · ga gréasán (tangled twisted mass) · de Rangelei (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · ja 縺れ (tangled twisted mass) · pt emaranhado (complicated or confused state or condition) · sv bråk (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · fi vyyhti (tangled twisted mass) · sv härva (complicated or confused state or condition) · pl spór (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · hu gubanc (tangled twisted mass) · ru пу́таница (tangled twisted mass) · sv gräl (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · sv virrvarr (complicated or confused state or condition) · sv trassel (tangled twisted mass) · pl plątanina (tangled twisted mass) · ja 縺れ (complicated or confused state or condition) · fo fløkja (complicated or confused state or condition) · pl zamęt (complicated or confused state or condition) · pt emaranhado (tangled twisted mass) · bg схватка (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · de Gewirr (complicated or confused state or condition) · is flækja (complicated or confused state or condition) · hu zűrzavar (complicated or confused state or condition) · fi sotku (tangled twisted mass) · is flækja (tangled twisted mass) · hu csetepaté (argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · mk брко́тница (tangled twisted mass)
From Middle English tanglen, probably of North Germanic origin, compare Swedish taggla (“to disorder”), Old Norse þǫngull, þang (“tangle; seaweed”), see Etymology 2 below.
Meanings
(transitive) To mix together or intertwine.
(intransitive) To become mixed together or intertwined.
Her hair was tangled from a day in the wind.
By the afternoon it seemed as if the storm had passed and that frost was setting in; but in the evening the wind rose to gale force, bringing telegraph poles down like skittles and tangling power and telephone lines. 1960 March, “The January blizzard in the North-East of Scotland”, in Trains Illustrated, page 137:
(figuratively, intransitive) To enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight.
After a few attempts at counseling, they separated in January 2015. Since then, they have tangled in the courts. 2021 August 20, Daisuke Wakabayashi, “Who Gets the L.L.C.? Inside a Silicon Valley Billionaire’s Divorce.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
He tangled with the law.
Compared to the last time they'd tangled with the U.S. Navy's carriers, the antiaircraft fire had been much, much more effective, even if the Wildcats hadn't done particularly well in their intercepts. They couldn't know it, of course, but the officer aboard Enterprise who'd recommended recarpeting the ship with 20-mm Oerlikons had, at least partially, been listened to, and the effect on the Japanese Navy's elite aircrews had been devastating. 2021 February 3, Drachinifel, 19:47 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - Santa Cruz (IJN 2 : 2 USN), archived from the original on 04 Dec 2022:
Don't tangle with someone three times your size.
(transitive) To catch and hold.
This is a book about the potential for the reclamation, reform, and enlightened transformation of the most expansive elements of the liberal tradition— that social and economic justice remain tangled in liberalism's web of pretentious institutions and betrayed promises is the reason for this battle from within. 2001, Christine A. Kelly, Tangled Up in Red, White, and Blue: New Social Movements in America, →ISBN:
When my simple weakness strays, / Tangled in forbidden ways. 1646, Richard Crashaw, Steps to the Temple:
tangled in amorous nets 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 2:
He spent the night at a friend's place unable to sleep and wondering how he got himself tangled in this mess. 2004, Eve Ikuenobe-Otaigbe, Tangled, →ISBN, page 80:
Why else would she have tangled him in spells of illusion to get him to keep her company? 2014, Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory, The House of the Four Winds, →ISBN:
pretangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · detangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · retangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · tanglelegs (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · tangly (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · betangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · tanglefoot (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · tangler (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · tangletalk (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · intertangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · nontangling (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · antitangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · tanglingly (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · it takes two to tangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · entangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · tanglegram (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · atangle (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!) · tangleproof (some might be derived from the noun, I suppose. But who gives a damn, right!)
pt emaranhar (to become mixed together or intertwined) · pt capturar (to catch and hold) · de verfangen (to catch and hold) · pl splątać się (to become mixed together or intertwined) · fi sotkeutua (to be forced into some kind of situation) · ary خبّل (to mix together or intertwine) · ru запу́таться (to become mixed together or intertwined) · cs zaplést (to mix together or intertwine) · bg сплитам се (to become mixed together or intertwined) · ru встрять (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · cs zaplést se (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · pt embaraçar (to become mixed together or intertwined) · ru впу́тывать (to be forced into some kind of situation) · cs splést (to mix together or intertwine) · wa emacraler (to mix together or intertwine) · nn vasa (to become mixed together or intertwined) · km ធ្វើឲ្យប្រទាក់ចំពាក់គ្នា (to mix together or intertwine) · cs být zatažen do (to be forced into some kind of situation) · de verstricken (to catch and hold) · fr s'emmêler (to become mixed together or intertwined) · ru запу́тать (to mix together or intertwine) · bg забърквам се (to be forced into some kind of situation) · lt velti (to become mixed together or intertwined) · de zerzausen (to become mixed together or intertwined) · fi riidellä (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · uk заплу́тати (to mix together or intertwine) · mk се впле́тка (to be forced into some kind of situation) · sv trassla till (to mix together or intertwine) · nn filtra (to become mixed together or intertwined) · uk плу́татися (to become mixed together or intertwined) · cs zamotat se do (to be forced into some kind of situation) · fi sotkuuntua (to become mixed together or intertwined) · scn cummàttiri (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · bg забъ́ркам се (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · fi sotkea (to mix together or intertwine) · el μπλέκω (to be forced into some kind of situation) · mk за́плете (to mix together or intertwine) · ary تْخبّل (to become mixed together or intertwined) · fr s'enchevêtrer (to become mixed together or intertwined) · fi tapella (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · sv trassla sig (to become mixed together or intertwined) · mk се за́меша (to be forced into some kind of situation) · ja 縺れる (to become mixed together or intertwined) · gl enlear (to mix together or intertwine) · bg обърквам (to mix together or intertwine) · sv snärja (to catch and hold) · scn ammiscari (to be forced into some kind of situation) · mk се пле́те (to become mixed together or intertwined) · wa s' ecomeler (to become mixed together or intertwined) · sv tampas (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · mk се пле́тка (to become mixed together or intertwined) · it intrecciare (to mix together or intertwine) · de sich verstricken (to be forced into some kind of situation) · ru запу́тывать (to mix together or intertwine) · bg заплитам се (to become mixed together or intertwined) · de verfilzen (to mix together or intertwine) · uk заплу́татися (to become mixed together or intertwined) · gl embeleñar (to mix together or intertwine) · cs polapit (to catch and hold) · sv bli tilltrasslad (to become mixed together or intertwined) · bg забъ́рквам се (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · mk за́плетка (to mix together or intertwine) · cmn 糾結 /纠结 (to become mixed together or intertwined) · es enmarañarse (to become mixed together or intertwined) · wa s' ecramyî (to become mixed together or intertwined) · ru встрева́ть (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · sv göra trasslig (to mix together or intertwine) · de sich verheddern (to become mixed together or intertwined) · bcl gubot (to become mixed together or intertwined) · ru запу́тываться (to become mixed together or intertwined) · pl plątać się (to become mixed together or intertwined) · km ចំពាក់ (to become mixed together or intertwined) · de verfitzen (to mix together or intertwine) · pt misturar (to mix together or intertwine) · sv bli insnärjd (to be forced into some kind of situation) · bg хващам в мрежа (to catch and hold) · bg заплитам (to mix together or intertwine) · fr compliquer (to mix together or intertwine) · de verfitzen (to become mixed together or intertwined) · pl poplątać się (to become mixed together or intertwined) · scn alligari (to mix together or intertwine) · ms kusut (to become mixed together or intertwined) · mk се впле́тка (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · de sich verwickeln lassen (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · scn ntrizzari (to mix together or intertwine) · eo konfuzi (to mix together or intertwine) · wa ecramyî (to mix together or intertwine) · es enmarañar (to mix together or intertwine) · el πλέκω (to mix together or intertwine) · pt pegar (to catch and hold) · uk плу́тати (to mix together or intertwine) · nl verstrikken (to catch and hold) · de sich anlegen mit jmdn. (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · scn mpacciarisilla (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · km ប្រទាក់ (to become mixed together or intertwined) · cs zamotat (to mix together or intertwine) · mwl ambaraçar (to become mixed together or intertwined) · ru впу́тать (to be forced into some kind of situation) · el εμπλέκω (to become mixed together or intertwined) · fr emmêler (to mix together or intertwine) · wa ecomeler (to mix together or intertwine) · sv gräla (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight) · pt enrolar-se (to become mixed together or intertwined) · pt envolver (to be forced into some kind of situation) · pt emaranhar (to mix together or intertwine) · uk заплу́тувати (to mix together or intertwine) · gl enmarañar (to mix together or intertwine) · de verwirren (to mix together or intertwine) · gl ensarillar (to mix together or intertwine) · nn fløkja (to become mixed together or intertwined) · fr enchevêtrer (to mix together or intertwine) · uk заплу́туватися (to become mixed together or intertwined) · fi sotkeutua (to become mixed together or intertwined) · sv bråka (to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight)
Of North Germanic origin, such as Danish tang or Swedish tång, from Old Norse þongull, þang. See also Norwegian tongul, Faroese tongul, Icelandic þöngull.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Any large type of seaweed, especially a species of Laminaria.
You've never smelled the tangle o' the Isles. 1917, “The Road to the Isles”, in Kenneth Macleod, editor, Songs of the Hebrides:
[…] if with thee the roaring wells
Should gulf him fathom-deep in brine;
And hands so often clasp’d in mine,
Should toss with tangle and with shells. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto X”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
(countable, in-plural, uncountable) 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.
(Scotland, countable, uncountable) Any long hanging thing, even a lanky person.