v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tangled p. pr. & vb. n. Tangling ] [ A frequentative fr. tang seaweed; hence, to twist like seaweed. See Tang seaweed, and cf. Tangle, n. ] 1. To unite or knit together confusedly; to interweave or interlock, as threads, so as to make it difficult to unravel the knot; to entangle; to ravel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To involve; to insnare; to entrap; as, to be tangled in lies. “Tangled in amorous nets.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

When my simple weakness strays,
Tangled in forbidden ways. Crashaw. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be entangled or united confusedly; to get in a tangle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. [ Cf. Icel. þöngull. See Tang seaweed. ] (Bot.) Any large blackish seaweed, especially the Laminaria saccharina. See Kelp. [ 1913 Webster ]

Coral and sea fan and tangle, the blooms and the palms of the ocean. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ From Tangle, v. ] A knot of threads, or other thing, united confusedly, or so interwoven as not to be easily disengaged; a snarl; as, hair or yarn in tangles; a tangle of vines and briers. Used also figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. An instrument consisting essentially of an iron bar to which are attached swabs, or bundles of frayed rope, or other similar substances, -- used to capture starfishes, sea urchins, and other similar creatures living at the bottom of the sea. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blue tangle. (Bot.)See Dangleberry. --
Tangle picker (Zool.), the turnstone. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The sea adder, or great pipefish of Europe. [ 1913 Webster ]