tac|tic ◆◇◇ /tæ kt I k/ (tactics ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Tactics are the methods that you choose to use in order to achieve what you want in a particular situation. □ What sort of tactics will the President use to rally the people behind him? SYNONYMS tactics NOUN 1
approach: We will be exploring different approaches to gathering information.
strategy: What should our marketing strategy have achieved?
method: This is the usual method of getting through the Amsterdam traffic.
tac|ti|cal /tæ kt I k ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use tactical to describe an action or plan which is intended to help someone achieve what they want in a particular situation. □ It's not yet clear whether the Prime Minister's resignation offer is a serious one, or whether it's simply a tactical move. ● tac|ti|cal|ly /tæ kt I kli/ ADV [ADV after v, oft ADV adj] □ The electorate is astute enough to vote tactically against the Government.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Tactical weapons or forces are those which a military leader can decide for themselves to use in a battle, rather than waiting for a decision by a political leader. □ They refused to talk about their own strategy on tactical weapons.
ta c|ti|cal vo t|ing N‑UNCOUNT Tactical voting is the act of voting for a particular person or political party in order to prevent someone else from winning, rather than because you support that person or party. [BRIT ]
tac|ti|cian /tækt I ʃ ə n/ (tacticians ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a good tactician , you mean that they are skilful at choosing the best methods in order to achieve what they want. □ He is an extremely astute political tactician.
tac|tile /tæ kta I l, [AM ] -t ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as tactile , you mean that they tend to touch other people a lot when talking to them. □ The children are very tactile, with warm, loving natures.
2 ADJ Something such as fabric which is tactile is pleasant or interesting to touch. □ Tweed is timeless, tactile and tough.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Tactile experiences or sensations are received or felt by touch. [FORMAL ] □ The baby responds to outside tactile and auditory stimuli.
tact|less /tæ ktləs/ ADJ If you describe someone as tactless , you think what they say or do is likely to offend other people. □ He had alienated many people with his tactless remarks.
tad /tæ d/ PHRASE You can use a tad in expressions such as a tad big or a tad small when you mean that it is slightly too big or slightly too small. [INFORMAL ] □ It was a tad confusing.
tad|pole /tæ dpoʊl/ (tadpoles ) N‑COUNT Tadpoles are small water creatures which grow into frogs or toads.
taf|fe|ta /tæ f I tə/ N‑UNCOUNT Taffeta is shiny stiff material made of silk or nylon that is used mainly for making women's clothes.
taf|fy /tæ fi/ N‑UNCOUNT Taffy is a sticky sweet that you chew. It is made by boiling sugar and butter together with water. [AM ] in BRIT, use toffee
tag /tæ g/ (tags , tagging , tagged )
1 N‑COUNT A tag is a small piece of card or cloth which is attached to an object or person and has information about that object or person on it. □ Staff wore name tags. □ …baggage tags.
2 → see also dog tag , price tag
3 N‑COUNT An electronic tag is a device that is firmly attached to someone or something and sets off an alarm if that person or thing moves away or is removed. □ A hospital is to fit new-born babies with electronic tags to foil kidnappers.
4 → see also electronic tagging
5 VERB If you tag something, you attach something to it or mark it so that it can be identified later. □ [V n] Professor Orr has developed interesting ways of tagging chemical molecules using existing laboratory lasers.
6 N‑COUNT You can refer to a phrase that is used to describe someone or something as a tag . [JOURNALISM ] □ Jazz was losing its elitist tag and gaining a much broader audience.
7 VERB If you tag someone in a particular way, you keep describing them using a particular phrase or thinking of them as a particular thing. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n + with ] …the pundits were still tagging him with that age-old label, 'best of a bad bunch'. □ [be V -ed n] She has always lived in John's house and is still tagged 'Dad's girlfriend' by his children. [Also V n + as , V n]
8 → see also question tag
▸ tag along PHRASAL VERB If someone goes somewhere and you tag along , you go with them, especially when they have not asked you to. □ [V P ] I let him tag along because he had not been too well recently. □ [V P + with ] She seems quite happy to tag along with them.
▸ tag on PHRASAL VERB If you tag something on , you add it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] It is also worth tagging on an extra day or two to see the capital. [Also V n P ]
ta g line (tag lines ) also tag-line N‑COUNT The tag line of something such as a television commercial or a joke is the phrase that comes at the end and is meant to be amusing or easy to remember.
Tai Chi /ta I tʃiː / also tai chi N‑UNCOUNT Tai Chi is a type of Chinese physical exercise in which you make slow, controlled movements.
tai|ga /ta I gə/ (taigas ) N‑VAR Taiga is the coniferous forest located in the northern regions of the world. It is just south of the tundra.
tail ◆◇◇ /te I l/ (tails , tailing , tailed )