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Tackle vs Tickle - What's the difference?

tackle | tickle |

As nouns the difference between tackle and tickle

is that tackle is a system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope while tickle is the act of tickling.

As verbs the difference between tackle and tickle

is that tackle is to face or deal with attempting to overcome or fight down while tickle is to touch repeatedly or stroke delicately in a manner which causes the recipient to feel a usually pleasant sensation of tingling or titillation.

As an adjective tickle is

changeable, capricious; insecure.

tackle

English

Noun

  • (nautical) A system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope.
  • (fishing, uncountable) Equipment (rod, reel, line, lure, etc.) used when angling.
  • (uncountable, informal) By extension, any piece of equipment, particularly gadgetry.
  • * 2004 June 24–30, "Jeff Gordon Never Gets Tired Of Seeing Face On Cheap Plastic Crap", '', available in ''Embedded in America , ISBN 1400054567, page 193,
  • ... an illuminated license-plate frame bearing his likeness, signature, and yellow number 24. "That there's a real nice piece of tackle . ..."
  • (sports, countable) A play where a player attempts to take control over the ball from an opponent, as in rugby or football.
  • (American football, countable) A play where a defender brings the ball carrier to the ground.
  • (countable) Any instance in which one person forces another to the ground.
  • (American football, uncountable) The offensive positions between each guard and end, offensive tackle.
  • (American football, countable) A person playing that position.
  • (American football, uncountable) The defensive positions between two ends, defensive tackle.
  • (American football, countable) A person playing that position.
  • (slang) A man's genitalia.
  • Derived terms

    * grapple tackle * spear tackle

    Verb

  • to face or deal with attempting to overcome or fight down
  • The government's measures to tackle crime were insufficient.
  • (sports) to attempt to take away a ball
  • (American football) to bring a ball carrier to the ground
  • tickle

    English

    (tickling)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of tickling.
  • A feeling resembling the result of tickling.
  • I have a persistent tickle in my throat.
  • (Newfoundland) A narrow strait.
  • * 2004 , (Richard Fortey), The Earth , Folio Society 2011, p. 169:
  • Cow Head itself is a prominent headland connected to the settlement by a natural causeway, or ‘tickle ’ as the Newfoundlanders prefer it.

    Verb

    (tickl)
  • To touch repeatedly or stroke delicately in a manner which causes the recipient to feel a usually pleasant sensation of tingling or titillation.
  • He tickled Nancy's tummy, and she started to giggle.
  • * Shakespeare
  • If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
  • (of a body part) To feel as if the body part in question is being tickled.
  • My nose tickles , and I'm going to sneeze!
  • To appeal to someone's taste, curiosity etc.
  • To cause delight or amusement in.
  • He was tickled to receive such a wonderful gift.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Such a nature / Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow / Which he treads on at noon.
  • To feel titillation.
  • * Spenser
  • He with secret joy therefore / Did tickle inwardly in every vein.

    Derived terms

    (terms derived from the verb "tickle") * tickle someone's fancy * tickle the dragon's tail * tickle the ivories * tickle pink * tickler * ticklish * tickly

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Changeable, capricious; insecure.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.4:
  • So ticle be the termes of mortall state, / And full of subtile sophismes, which do play / With double senses, and with false debate [...].

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