n. Side: said of a speculator's relationship to the market.n. A short, sharp-pointed nail or pin, used as a fastener by being driven or thrust-through the material to be fastened into the substance to which it is to be fixed.n. In needlework, a long stitch, usually one of a number intended to hold two pieces of stuff together, preparatory to more thorough sewing. Compare basting.n. Nautical: A heavy rope used to confine the foremost lower corner of the courses; also, a rope by which the outer lower corner of a studdingsail is pulled out to the end of the boom.n. The part of a sail to which the tack is fastened, the foremost lower corner of a course, jib, or staysail, or the outer lower corner of a studdingsail.n. Hence— The course of a ship in relation to the position of her sails: as, the starboard tack, or port tack (the former when she is close-hauled with the wind on her starboard, the latter when close-hauled with the wind on her port side).n. A temporary change of a few points in the direction of sailing, as to take advantage of a side wind; one of a series of movements of a vessel to starboard and port alternately out of the general line of her course.n. Hence A determinate course or change of course in general; a tactical line or turn of procedure; a mode of action or conduct adopted or pursued for some specific reason.n. In plumbing, the fastening of a pipe to a wall or the like, consisting of a strip of lead soldered to the pipe, nailed to the support, and turned back over the nails.n. Something that is attached or fixed in place, or that holds, adheres, or sticks.n. The condition of being tacked or fastened; stability; fixedness; firm grasp; reliance. See to hold tack, below.n. In the arts, an adhesive or sticky condition, as of a partially dried, varnished, painted, or oiled surface; stickiness.n. In Scots law, a contract by which the use of a thing is let for hire; a lease: as, a tack of land.n. Hence— Land occupied on lease; a rented farm.n. Hired pasturage; the renting of pasture for cattle.To fasten by tacks; join, attach, or secure by some slight or temporary fastening: as, to tack down a carpet; to tack up a curtain; to tack a shoe to the last; to tack parts of a garment together with pins or by basting preparatory to sewing.To attach by some binding force; make a junction or union of; connect; combine: as, to tack a rider to a legislative bill; to tack two leases together.In metal-working, to join (pieces) by small patches of solder placed at intervals to hold them in position until the final soldering can be completed.To change the course of a ship when sailing by the wind, by turning her head toward the wind and bracing the yards round so that she will sail at the same angle with the wind on the other tack.Hence To change one's course; take a new line or direction; shift; veer.To attack.n. A spot; a stain; a blemish.n. A distinctive taste or flavor; a continuing or abiding smack.n. Substance; solidity: spoken of the food of cattle and other stock.n. Bad food.n. Bad malt liquor.n. Food in general; fare: as, hard tack, coarse fare; soft tack, good fare.n. Specifically, among sailors, soldiers, etc., bread, or anything of the bread kind, distinguished as hard tack (or hardtack) and soft tack. See hardtack.n. A variety of pistol used by the Highlanders of Scotland. See dag, 2.
