NYT Dictionary

TACK

/tæk/
NounVerbTAKGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A small nail with a flat head.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English tak, takke (“hook; staple; nail”), from Old Northern French taque (“nail, pin, peg”), from Frankish *takkō (“twig, branch, shoot”), of unknown origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dHgʰ-n-, from the root *déHgʰ- (“to pinch; to tear, rip, fray”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Takke (“bough; branch; twig”), West Frisian takke (“branch”), tûk (“branch, smart, sharp”), Dutch tak (“twig; branch; limb”), German Zacke (“jag; prong; spike; tooth; peak”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

coming aboutbiscuitbreadtack weldchange tackbeattack upcheapiegaudtawdry

Antonyms

weargyberun

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 12 recorded puzzles:

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