The word "tangle" describes a mass of things twisted and untidy, like wires or hair, or a confusing situation. As a verb, it means to twist or become twisted, or to get involved in a fight or argument.
The word "tangle" refers to a mass of things twisted together untidily, such as wires or hair. It can also describe a confusing or complicated situation, or a situation where things become twisted together. As a verb, it means to twist or become twisted together in an untidy way.
"Tangle" can be a noun referring to a mass of twisted material like threads or hair, or a confusing situation. As a verb, it means to twist or become twisted, and can also refer to getting into an argument or fight.
[N-COUNT 可数名词]缠结；纠结；乱糟糟的一团 A tangle of something is a mass of it twisted together in an untidy way.
[usu N of n]
A tangle of wires is all that remains of the computer and phone systems...
原来的计算机和电话系统如今只剩下乱糟糟的一团电线。
There he stood: hair in wild tangles, dark stubble shadowing his chin.
他站在那儿，头发乱成一团，下巴上一片黑胡茬。
2
[V-ERG 及物/不及物动词](使)缠绕；(使)缠结 If something is tangled or tangles, it becomes twisted together in an untidy way.
[get/be V-ed in n]
[V-ed]
[V]
[V n]
[Also get/be V-ed]
Animals get tangled in fishing nets and drown...
动物被缠进渔网里淹死了。
She tried to kick the pajamas loose, but they were tangled in the satin sheet...
她想把睡衣踢脱，可是它却和缎子床单绞到了一块。
Lee and I fell in a tangled heap...
李和我扭作一团，摔倒在地。
Her hair tends to tangle...
她的头发容易打结。
He suggested that tangling fishing gear should be made a criminal offence.
他提议，缠绕捕鱼器材应该算刑事犯罪。
3
[N-SING 单数名词]混乱；纷乱；乱成一团 You can refer to a confusing or complicated situation as a tangle .
[oft N of n]
I was thinking what a tangle we had got ourselves into.
我在想，我们卷入了怎样的纷争之中。
...the tangle of domestic politics.
国内政局的错综复杂
4
[VERB 动词](思想、局势变得)纷乱，混乱 If ideas or situations are tangled, they become confused and complicated.
[get/be V-ed]
[V-ed]
[usu passive]
The themes get tangled in Mr. Mahfouz's epic storytelling...
马赫福兹先生讲述的故事过于宏大，主题有些混乱了。
You are currently in a muddle where financial and emotional concerns are tangled together.
你眼下头脑不清了，对于金钱和感情的忧虑交织在了一起。
tangled
His personal life has become more tangled than ever.
他的个人生活比以前更混乱了。
5
a tangled web→see:
web
；
tangled up
For many days now Buddy and Joe had appeared to be more and more tangled up in secrets.
这些天巴迪和乔好像变得越来越神神秘秘。
相关词组：
tangle up
tangle with
Oxford
tan·gle/ˈtæŋɡl; NAmEˈtæŋɡl/
noun
,
verb
tangletanglestangledtanglingnoun1a twisted mass of threads, hair, etc. that cannot be easily separated （线、毛发等的）缠结的一团，乱团，乱糟糟的一堆◆a tangle of branches盘绕在一起的树枝◆Her hair was a mass of tangles.她的头发乱糟糟的。2a state of confusion or lack of order 混乱；纷乱◆His financial affairs are in a tangle.他的财务一塌糊涂。3( informal) a disagreement or fight 纠纷；不和；争执；打架verb[transitive , intransitive ]tangle(sth) up to twist sth into an untidy mass; to become twisted in this way 使缠结；纠结；乱作一团◆She had tangled up the sheets on the bed as she lay tossing and turning.她在床上翻来覆去，把被单弄得乱成一团。PHRASAL VERBˈtangle with sb/sthto become involved in an argument or a fight with sb/sth 争论；争吵；打架tan·gle/ˈtæŋɡl; NAmEˈtæŋɡl/
LDC
tangle1 verb
tangle2 noun
tangletan‧gle1 /ˈtæŋɡəl/ verb
Word Origin
Verb Table
Examples
Collocations
1[intransitive, transitive] (also tangle up) to become twisted together, or make something become twisted together, in an untidy mass: My hair tangles easily. His parachute became tangled in the wheels of the plane.2[intransitive] to argue or fight with someonetangle with It was not an animal you’d care to tangle with.
tangle1 verb
tangle2 noun
tangletangle2 noun [countable]
Examples
Collocations
1a twisted mass of something such as hair or thread: Her hair was full of tangles after being out in the wind.tangle of John was sitting on the floor in a tangle of blankets.tangle of bushes/branches/vegetation etc She followed him, pushing through the dense tangle of bushes and branches.2a confused state or situationtangle of Her brain was teeming with a whole tangle of emotions.3informal a quarrel or fighttangle with She got into a tangle with the staff.