| 释义 |
tactical, a.|ˈtæktɪkəl|
[f. Gr. τακτικ-ός (see tactic a.1, n.1) + -al1: see -ical. (This appears to be the earliest in use of the words of the group.)]
1. a. Of or pertaining to (military or naval) tactics.
tactical point: a point of place of importance in the disposition of forces. tactical unit: see quot. 1879.
1570Dee Math. Pref. a iv b, Stratarithmetrie..differreth from the Feate Tacticall, De aciebus instruendis, bycause, there, is necessary the wisedome and foresight, to what purpose he so ordreth the men: and Skillfull hability, also, for any occasion, or purpose, to deuise and vse the aptest and most necessary order, array and figure of his Company and Summe of men. 1706Phillips, Tactical, belonging to Martial Array. 1777W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. lvi, Military books had been bought up in all languages for the use of this tactical school. 1836Fraser's Mag. XIV. 453 We have actually seen them form a hollow square..with the most perfect tactical accuracy. 1879Soldiering in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 320/1 The largest number of men..to whom one man can issue personal orders..called in infantry the ‘tactical unit’ or unit of manœuvre. 1884Mil. Engineering (ed. 3) I. ii. 14 The first and second lines would be taken from the same tactical unit, each battalion having half a battalion in the front line.
b. Applied to aircraft, bombing, etc., employed in direct support of ground forces. Cf. strategic bomber, bombing s.v. strategic a. 4.
1916F. W. Lanchester Aircraft in Warfare vii. 69 The tactical scout or machine for local reconnaissance will require to be furnished..with both offensive and defensive armament. 1922Flight 24 Aug. 488/1 Tactical bombing and ‘trench-strafing’, etc., in battles in accordance with the plans and under the command of the naval or military officer in charge of the operations. 1941A. O. Pollard Bombers over Reich xv. 208 Tactical bombing replaces..the long-range attacks on objectives far behind the lines. 1942R.A.F. Jrnl. 3 Oct. (recto rear cover), The transition to low wing monoplane trainers and tactical ships of advanced type. 1955Bull. Atomic Sci. May 192/2 One of the pitfalls of the atomic age is the use of words that becloud important meaning, rather than clarify it. Take the words ‘tactical’ and ‘strategic’, in defining two kinds of bombing. 1958Listener 11 Sept. 376/2, I believe that the initiation by the West of the use of small tactical bombs on a battlefield in Europe would prove disastrous to NATO forces. 1977R.A.F. News 11–24 May 6 (Advt.), A two-seater all-weather tactical interdictor and attack bomber.
c. Designating nuclear weapons intended for short-range use against an enemy's forces. Opp. strategic a. 2.
1957[see strategic a. 2]. 1968Observer 31 Mar. 25/1 Consider the weapons that have become operational for the first time in the past 20 years. They include the H-bomb and the so-called ‘tactical’ A-bombs. 1970Toronto Daily Star 24 Sept. 22/5 It is estimated that about 20 lbs. or so would be sufficient for one atomic bomb in the one kiloton range, a so-called tactical bomb with mainly localized effects. 1976Ld. Home Way the Wind Blows xii. 167 The balance of argument through the years moved towards a substantial conventional force, but it was gradually rendered somewhat academic by the introduction of the tactical nuclear weapon. 1979N. Calder Nuclear Nightmares ii. 35 This definition is..not as sharp as the cynic's version: ‘A tactical nuclear weapon is one that explodes in Germany.’ Ibid., ‘Tactical’ nuclear weapons can be let off without necessarily signalling a ‘strategic’, all-out exchange between the Soviet Union and the United States.
2. a. Of or relating to arrangement, esp. the arrangement of procedure with a view to ends.
1876Tait Rec. Adv. Phys. Sc. xii. (ed. 2) 302 Each in the same tactical order. 1881Nation (N.Y.) XXXII. 367 With an admirable temper and manners..he combines a good deal of tactical craft. 1893Times 26 Apr. 9/4 To arrive at an understanding upon tactical details.
b. Relating to the construction of a sentence. rare.
1698[see taghmical].
3. Of a person, his actions, etc.: Characterized by skilful tactics; skilful in devising means to ends.
1883Manch. Exam. 26 Nov. 5/3 The address of the French Ambassador was admirably tactical. 1884Ibid. 20 May 5/1 Those who knew M. Ferry as a practical and tactical statesman. 1899Sir W. Lawson in Daily Chron. 7 Feb. 4/7 All that we want is..an able, an honest, a tactical leader.
4. Math. Of or pertaining to tactic (sense 3): opposed to logistical.
1864Cayley Math. Papers V. 293 A tactical operation is one relating to the arrangement in any manner of a set of things.
Hence ˈtactically adv., in a tactical manner; in reference to tactics.
1871Standard 23 Jan., The Prussians..seem to have out-manœuvred the French both strategically and tactically. 1890W. Stebbing Peterborough ix. 176 The obstinately brave and tactically skilful but uninspired Huguenot [Earl of Galway].
Add:[1.] d. tactical voting Pol., the practice of transferring electoral allegiance for tactical purposes, esp. in the hope of denying victory to a third party; also tactical vote, tactical voter.
1974M. Steed in Butler & Kavanagh Brit. Gen. Election Feb. 1974 317 Some people who would have voted Labour, had they lived in an average constituency with a full choice of parties, voted Liberal or SNP where a Labour candidate had little or no chance of winning. Thus the theory is one of tactical voting. 1975Economist 15 Feb. 18/2 In February, the picture was confused, particularly by Labour tactical voters who switched to Liberal. 1981Guardian Weekly 26 July 5/3 The slashing of the Conservative vote..must have reflected a large measure of tactical voting as Warrington Tories..came to see that they had a chance at last of turning out Labour. 1983N.Y. Times 31 May i. 3/1 [David Owen] launched into a plea for what the British call a ‘tactical vote’... ‘I'm the one who can keep Labor out.’ 1987Oxf. Times 27 Feb. 14/3 The Liberals..will encourage tactical voting against a Socialist in one constituency and a Tory in another. 1989Daily Tel. 25 Nov. 15/5 To some extent these tactical voters will be kicking at an open door: from 1995 the [Swiss] army will, by reducing the age limit for military service, shed 100,000 men. |