tackle

I UK [ˈtæk(ə)l] / US verb
Word forms "tackle":
present tense I/you/we/they tackle he/she/it tackles present participle tackling past tense tackled past participle tackled
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1)

a) [transitive] to make an organized and determined attempt to deal with a problem, often a social problem such as crime or unemployment

Successive governments have failed to tackle the question of homelessness.

a new initiative to tackle the shortage of teachers

b) to try to put out a large fire

There were over 50 firefighters tackling the blaze.

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Collocations:
Nouns frequently used as objects of tackle
▪  challenge, crisis, issue, problem, question, subject, task

2) [intransitive/transitive] to try to take the ball from an opponent in a game such as football

3)

a) [transitive] to take hold of someone and push them to the ground

b) [intransitive/transitive] to take hold of an opponent in a game such as rugby or American football and stop them from moving forwards, usually by forcing them to the ground

4)

a) [transitive] to ask someone questions in a very direct way, because you disagree with them and you want them to explain their opinions or behaviour

tackle someone about something:

The interviewer tackled him about his failed economic policies.

b) to oppose a person or organization

They're too powerful for you to tackle on your own.

II UK [ˈtæk(ə)l] / US noun
Word forms "tackle":
singular tackle plural tackles
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1) [countable] an attempt to take the ball from an opponent in a game such as football

2) [countable] an attempt to stop an opponent from moving forwards in a game such as rugby or American football, usually by forcing them to the ground

3)

a) [uncountable] the ropes and other equipment that people use to lift heavy objects

b) special equipment that people use for sports such as fishing or rock climbing

4) [uncountable] British humorous a man's sexual organs