pine

¹

[ pahyn ]

noun

1. any evergreen, conifer of the genus Pinus, having long, needle-shaped leaves, certain species of which yield timber, turpentine, tar, pitch, etc. Compare pine family.
2. any of various similar coniferous trees.
3. the wood of the pine tree.
4. Informal. the pineapple.

pine

²

[ pahyn ]

verb (used without object)

, pined, pin·ing.

1. to yearn deeply; suffer with longing; long painfully (often followed by for ):

   to pine for one's home and family.

2. to fail gradually in health or vitality from grief, regret, or longing (often followed by away ):

   Separated by their families, the lovers pined away.

   Synonyms: waste, droop, languish, decline, dwindle

3. Archaic. to be discontented; fret.

verb (used with object)

, pined, pin·ing.

1. Archaic. to suffer grief or regret over.

noun

1. Archaic. painful longing.

pine

¹

/ paɪn /

noun

1. any evergreen resinous coniferous tree of the genus Pinus, of the N hemisphere, with long needle-shaped leaves and brown cones: family Pinaceae See also longleaf pine nut pine pitch pine Scots pine
2. any other tree or shrub of the family Pinaceae
3. the wood of any of these trees
4. any of various similar but unrelated plants, such as ground pine and screw pine

pine

²

/ paɪn /

verb

1. intr; often foll by for or an infinitive to feel great longing or desire; yearn
2. introften foll byaway to become ill, feeble, or thin through worry, longing, etc
3. archaic.
   tr to mourn or grieve for

Pine

³

/ paɪn /

noun

1. PineCourtney1964MBritishMUSIC: jazz saxophonist Courtney. born 1964, British jazz saxophonist and clarinettist

Other Words From

• pinelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pine¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English pin(e), pigne, Old English pīntrēow “pine tree,” from Old French pin and Latin pīnus

Origin of pine²

First recorded before 900; Middle English pinen “to torture, torment, inflict pain, be in pain”; Old English pīnian “to torture,” derivative of pīn “torture” ( Middle English pine ), from Late Latin pēna, Latin poena “punishment”; pain

Word History and Origins

Origin of pine¹

Old English pīn, from Latin pīnus pine

Origin of pine²

Old English pīnian to torture, from pīn pain, from Medieval Latin pēna, from Latin poena pain

Synonym Study

See yearn.

Example Sentences

Blister rust is like having the flu; the pine beetle is like fast acting leukemia.

From The Daily Beast

Because this food source could abruptly disappear at any time, cutworm moths cannot be counted on to replace pine nuts.

From The Daily Beast

This high-altitude pine needs to be 50-80 years old before it even begins to produce cones.

From The Daily Beast

Meat, especially outside the park, is a nutritious but deadly alternative to pine nuts.

From The Daily Beast

And, if these alternative foods were indeed similar in food value to pine nuts, why are the bears not already wolfing them down?

From The Daily Beast

While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors shall pine away in the end.

From Project Gutenberg

After this it wound along on ridges and in ravines till it reached the heart of a great pine forest, where stood a saw-mill.

From Project Gutenberg

The lone pine on the stone cap of Gander Knob waved its farewell, and we clattered down the long slope into the great world.

From Project Gutenberg

How many imitators of the great manipulator have looked at this growth of pine and wondered where the old master obtained it!

From Project Gutenberg

We have for the upper table, or front, a thin slab of wood known as pine, from a species of tree that grows all over the world.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ache
• crave
• grieve
• hanker
• mourn
• yearn