tackle

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 [VN] to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or situation: The government is determined to tackle inflation. * I think I'll tackle the repairs next weekend. * Firefighters tackled a blaze in a garage last night. 2 [VN] ~ sb (about sth) to speak to sb about a problem or difficult situation SYNCONFRONT: I tackled him about the money he owed me. 3 (in football, hockey, etc.) to try and take the ball from an opponent: [VN] He was tackled just outside the penalty area. [also V] 4 [V, VN] (in rugby or American football) to make an opponent fall to the ground in order to stop them running 5 [VN] to deal with sb who is violent or threatening you: He tackled a masked intruder at his home. noun 1 [C] an act of trying to take the ball from an opponent in football, etc.; an act of knocking an opponent to the ground in rugby or American football: He was booked for a late tackle on Giggs. * He brought the burglar down with a flying tackle. 2 [C] (AmE) (in American football) a player whose job is to stop opponents by knocking them to the ground 3 [U] the equipment used to do a particular sport or activity, especially fishing 4 [U] (BrE, slang) a man's sexual organs seealsoBLOCKANDTACKLE