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**tag.ging** /'tægɪŋ/ $n$ [U] especially AmE the action of illegally painting your name or symbol on a wall, vehicle etc **—tagger** $n$**Tag.li•a•bue, Paul** /,tægliə'bu:/ (1940-) the COMMISSIONER (=person in charge of an organization) of the US National Football League since 1989**ta.glia.telle** /,tæljə'teli, tɑ:-/ $n$ [U] Italian PASTA (=food made from flour mixed with water) in the shape of long thin flat pieces, cooked in boiling water $\rightarrow$ compare MACARONI, SPAGHETTI, VERMICELLI; see picture at PASTA**Ta.gore, Ra.bin.dra.nath** /tə'gɔ:r, rə'bindrənɑ:θ/ (1861-1941) a Bengali Indian writer, one of the most influential Indian writers of the 20th century, known for *Gitanjali*, and *Chitra*, a play which he translated into English**ta.hi.ni** /tə'hi:ni/ also **ta.hi.na** /-nə/ $n$ [U] a thick substance made from ground (GRIND) SESAME seeds, used in Middle Eastern cookery, and especially for making HUMMUS**Ta•hi.ti** /tə'hi:ti/ an island in French Polynesia, in the Pacific Ocean, which is governed by France and known for being a very beautiful place**Ta.hi.tian** /tə'hi:ʃən/ $n$ **1** [C] someone who comes from Tahiti **2** [U] the Polynesian language spoken in Tahiti **—Tahitian** *adj***tai chi, tai ji, t'ai chi** / ,taɪ 'tʃi:, -'dʒi:/ also **tai chi chuan** /,taɪ tʃi: 'tʃwɑ:n, -'dʒi:-/ (sometimes caps.) a Chinese form of physical exercise which involves moving the body very slowly, to train the body and mind in balance and control, and to help energy move around the body. Tai Chi is popular in western countries as well as in China.**tail¹** /teɪl/ $n$ **1** the movable long growth at the back or end of a creature's body: *a bird's tail* | *a fish's tail* | *The dog wagged his tail.* $\rightarrow$ see picture at HORSE **2** something like this in appearance, shape, or position: *a comet's tail* | *He wore a coat with tails. (=a TAILCOAT)* | *We saw the tail (=back end) of the procession disappearing round the bend.* | *I prefer to sit towards the tail of the plane.* | (infml) *I hate it when the driver behind sits on my tail. (=follows my car too closely)* $\rightarrow$ see picture at AIRCRAFT **3** *infml* a person employed to watch and follow someone, especially a criminal: *The police have put a tail on me, so they know my every move.* **4 (a case of) the tail wagging the dog** (a case of) something unimportant causing important decisions to be made **5 with one's tail between one's legs** in a state of complete defeat **6 turn tail** to turn round defeated (and run away): *They fought for a few moments, then turned tail and fled.* **7 -tailed** /teɪld/ having a tail of the stated sort: *a curly-tailed pig* $\rightarrow$ see also TAILS, not be able to make head or tail of (HEAD) **—less** *adj***tail²** $v$ [T] *infml* to follow closely behind (someone) in order to watch what they do, where they go etc: *The police have been tailing me - they know I'm here.*
**tail back** *phr v* [I] *especially BrE* to form a tailback: *The traffic was tailing back all the way to the city centre.***tail off** *phr v* [I] to lessen in quantity, strength, or quality: *The volume of traffic has begun to tail off.*
**tail.back** /'teɪlbæk/ *especially BrE* || usually **back-up** *AmE* — $n$ a still or slow-moving line of vehicles covering a certain distance on the road where the traffic has been stopped, e.g. by an accident, road repairs etc: *A lorry has overturned on the M1, causing a three-mile tailback for southbound travellers.***tail.board** /'teɪlbɔ:rd, -boʊrd/ also **tailgate** *especially AmE* — $n$ the board at the back of a cart or large vehicle that can be let down or removed to make loading and unloading easier**tail.coat** /'teɪlkoʊt, 'teɪlkəʊt/ also **cutaway** $n$ a man's coat with a long back divided into two below the waist and a front part that does not come below the waist $\rightarrow$ see also TAILS
**tail end** $n$ [(of) usually sing.] the very last part: *We just got there in time to see the tail end of the film.***tail end.er** /,teɪl 'endər/ $n$ (in cricket) a relatively poor BATSMAN who comes in near the end of the team's INNINGS
**tail fin, tailfin** /'teɪlfɪn/ $n$ **1** a FIN (=flat body part used for swimming) at the back end of a fish or other sea animal $\rightarrow$ see picture at FISH **2** fin part of a car above each back wheel, which is shaped like a fin for decoration. Tail fins were especially popular on US cars in the 1950s.# take
**tail.gate¹** /'teɪlgeɪt/ $n$ **1** a TAILBOARD **2** the door at the back of a HATCHBACK car**tailgate²** $v$ [I;T] *AmE infml* to drive (too) closely behind (a vehicle)
**'tailgate ,party** also **tailgate** $n$ a party before an American football game where people eat and drink in the CAR PARK of the place where the game is played**tail.light** /'teɪllaɪt/ $n$ a red light at the back of a vehicle so that it can be seen in the dark $\rightarrow$ see picture at CAR
**tai•lor¹** /'teɪlər/ $n$ a person who makes clothes, especially outer garments for men such as coats and suits $\rightarrow$ compare DRESSMAKER**tailor²** $v$ [T+obj+adv/prep] to make (an outer garment) by cutting and sewing cloth, especially to fit a particular person: *a beautifully tailored suit* | (fig.) *We can tailor the insurance policy to/according to your special needs.***tailor-'made** *adj* [(for)] exactly suited to a special need, a particular person etc: *This job's tailor-made for John.*
**tail.piece** /'teɪlpi:s/ $n$ a part added at the end; APPENDAGE: *He added a tailpiece describing what happened after the end of the war.***'tail pipe** $n$ *AmE for* EXHAUST
**tails** /teɪlz/ $n$ **1** [U] the side of a coin which does not have the head of a king, queen, president etc, on it: *I'll toss you for it - heads or tails?* $\rightarrow$ compare HEADS **2** [P] a formal evening TAILCOAT, usually black and worn with a white BOW TIE: *For a formal occasion at the palace you must wear tails.* $\rightarrow$ compare DINNER JACKET and see picture at EVENING DRESS
**tail.spin** /'teɪlspɪn/ $n$ an uncontrolled spinning fall by a plane, in which the tail spins in a wider circle than the front**tail.wind** /'teɪl,wɪnd/ $n$ a wind coming from behind
**taint¹** /teɪnt/ $v$ [T] **1** to cause to seem impure or undesirable, especially by bringing into CONTACT with something bad or unpleasant: *His political reputation is tainted by his connection with an unpopular government.* **2** *especially AmE* to make (food) unfit for use, especially because of decay: *tainted meat***taint²** $n$ [S(of)] a slight touch of decay, infection, or bad or immoral influence: *Can we be sure they are free from any taint of disloyalty?***Tai.wan** /,taɪ'wɑ:n/ an island off the southeast coast of China. Population: 22,191,087 (2003). Taiwan, which was formerly called Formosa, has experienced rapid economic development since the 1950s and has many factories. **—Taiwanese** /,taɪwə'ni:z/ $n$, adj**Tai.wan.ese, the** /,taɪwə'ni:z/ $n$ [plural] the people of Taiwan **—Taiwanese** *adj: a Taiwanese businessman*
**Ta.ji.ki.stan** /tɑ:,dʒi:kɪ'stɑ:n/ a country in central Asia, between Uzbekistan and China, formerly part of the SOVIET UNION. Population: 6,863,752 (2003). Capital: Dushanbe. **—Tajik** /tɑ:'dʒi:k/ **—Tajikistani** /tɑ:,dʒi:kɪ'stɑ:ni/ $n$, adj**Taj Ma.hal, the** /,tɑ:dʒ mə'hɑ:l/ a beautiful building made of white MARBLE (=a type of smooth, hard rock) in Agra, northern India, built as a MAUSOLEUM (=a building containing a grave) for his wife by the EMPEROR Shah Jahan in the 17th century. It is one of the world's most famous buildings, and is visited by many tourists.**take¹** /teɪk/ $v$ **took** /tʊk/, **taken** /'teɪkən/ TO MOVE SOMETHING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER **1** [T] to move or carry from one place or position to another: *I often forget to take my umbrella. | Don't forget to take your bag when you go. | [+obj+adv/prep] We usually take the children to school in the car. | Take your feet off the table. | The arrested man was taken away in a police car. | That notice has been up for weeks - it's time it was taken down. | She's gone to the dentist to have a tooth taken out. | I don't want this chair - take it away. | The drug was found to be dangerous, and was taken off the market. (=so that it could no longer be sold) | What do you get if you take (=subtract) four from nine? | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] Take your mother a cup of tea.* $\rightarrow$ see BRING (USAGE) **2** [T] to remove or use without permission or by mistake: *Someone's taken my pen. | The last bit of her book is taken straight from my article on the subject.* TO GET SOMETHING INTO ONE'S POSSESSION **3** [T] to get possession or control of; seize; CAPTURE: *Enemy forces have taken the airport. | 500 prisoners were taken in the battle. | The general swore to take back the fort whatever the cost. | She took my bishop and I took her*
