Definition

1. Noun:
   • A hand-held tool for driving staples: A tacker is a manual device used to insert staples into materials like fabric, paper, or wood to fasten them together.
   • A person who sews with temporary stitches: A tacker is someone who sews, specifically one who attaches pieces of fabric using long, loose, temporary stitches called tacks.
   • A worker who fastens things by tacking: A tacker is a laborer who secures items in place using tacks (small nails) or a spot-welding process.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Tool):
  • Use the tacker to secure the upholstery fabric to the frame.
  • He loaded staples into the tacker before repairing the poster.
• Noun (Person - Sewer):
  • The tailor employed a skilled tacker to baste the suit before the final fitting.
  • As a tacker, her job was to prepare the garment for the final seamstress.
• Noun (Person - Worker):
  • The tacker on the construction site fastened the insulation with special nails.
  • In the factory, a tacker spot-welded the metal components before final assembly.

Advanced Usage

• "Staple tacker": Often used to specify the hand-held stapling tool, distinguishing it from other meanings.
  • For this craft project, you will need a heavy-duty staple tacker.
• The term can imply a preliminary or temporary fastening action, especially in sewing and manufacturing contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Tack (verb/noun): The core action or item. As a verb: to fasten lightly or temporarily. As a noun: a small, sharp nail or a long, loose stitch.
• Tacking (noun/gerund): The process or technique of fastening with tacks.
• Stapler (noun): A common synonym for the hand-held tool meaning, though a stapler is often for paper, while a tacker may be for heavier materials.

Synonyms

• Stapler (for the tool).
• Baster (for the sewer who tacks).
• Fastener (for the worker).

Related Phrases

• To tack on (phrasal verb): To add something, often as an extra or afterthought. (Note: This uses the verb "tack," not the noun "tacker").
  • They decided to tack on an extra chapter to the book.
• To tack up (phrasal verb): To fasten something to a surface, often with tacks.
  • She tacked up the map on the bulletin board.

Noun

1. a hand-held machine for driving staples home
2. a sewer who fastens a garment with long loose stitches
3. a worker who fastens things by tacking them (as with tacks or by spotwelding)