tie

[ tahy ]

verb (used with object)

, tied [tahyd], ty·ing [tahy, -ing].

1. to bind, fasten, or attach with a cord, string, or the like, drawn together and knotted:

   to tie a tin can on a dog's tail.

   Antonyms: loosen, loose

2. to draw together the parts of with a knotted string or the like:

   to tie a bundle tight.

3. to fasten by tightening and knotting the string or strings of:

   to tie one's shoes.

4. to draw or fasten together into a knot, as a cord:

   to tie one's shoelace.

5. to form by looping and interlacing, as a knot or bow.
6. to fasten, join, or connect in any way.

   Synonyms: lock, yoke, knit, link, unite

7. Angling. to design and make (an artificial fly).
8. to bind or join closely or firmly:

   Great affection tied them.

9. Informal. to unite in marriage.
10. to confine, restrict, or limit:

    The weather tied him to the house.

11. to bind or oblige, as to do something.

    Synonyms: constrain, obligate

12. to make the same score as; equal in a contest.
13. Music. to connect (notes) by a tie.

verb (used without object)

, tied [tahyd], ty·ing [tahy, -ing].

1. to make a tie, bond, or connection.
2. to make or be the same score; be equal in a contest:

   The teams tied for first place in the league.

noun

1. that with which anything is tied.
2. a cord, string, or the like, used for tying, fastening, binding, or wrapping something.

   Synonyms: ligature, band, rope

3. a necktie.

   Synonyms: cravat

4. a low shoe fastened with a lace.
5. a knot, especially an ornamental one; bow.
6. anything that fastens, secures, or unites.
7. a bond or connection, as of affection, kinship, mutual interest, or between two or more people, groups, nations, or the like:

   family ties; the ties between Britain and the U.S.

8. a state of equality in the result of a contest, as in points scored, votes obtained, etc., among competitors:

   The game ended in a tie.

9. a match or contest in which this occurs.
10. any of various structural members, as beams or rods, for keeping two objects, as rafters or the haunches of an arch, from spreading or separating.
11. Music. a curved line connecting two notes on the same line or space to indicate that the sound is to be sustained for their joint value, not repeated.
12. alsocalledcomma especially British, sleeper. Railroads. any of a number of closely spaced transverse beams, usually of wood, for holding the rails forming a track at the proper distance from each other and for transmitting train loads to the ballast and roadbed.
13. bride ²( def 1 ).
14. Surveying. a measurement made to determine the position of a survey station with respect to a reference mark or other isolated point.

verb phrase

1. to limit one's activities; confine; curtail:

   He finds that a desk job ties him down.

2. 1. to fasten securely by tying.
   2. to wrap; bind.
   3. to hinder; impede.
   4. to bring to a stop; make inactive.
   5. to invest or place (money) in such a way as to render unavailable for other uses.
   6. to place (property) under such conditions or restrictions as to prevent sale or alienation.
   7. to moor a ship.
   8. to engage or occupy completely:

      I can't see you now, I'm all tied up.

3. to tie a cord or suture around (a vein, blood vessel, or the like) so as to stop the flow within.
4. 1. to connect or be connected; be consistent:

      His story ties in with the facts.

   2. Surveying. to establish the position of (a point not part of a survey control).
   3. to make a tie-in, especially in advertising or a sale:

      The paperback book is tied in with the movie of the same title.

tie

/ taɪ /

verb

1. whentr, often foll by up to fasten or be fastened with string, thread, etc
2. to make (a knot or bow) in (something)

   to tie a knot

   tie a ribbon

3. tr to restrict or secure
4. to equal the score of a competitor or fellow candidate
5. informal.
   tr to unite in marriage
6. music
   1. to execute (two successive notes of the same pitch) as though they formed one note of composite time value
   2. to connect (two printed notes) with a tie
7. fit to be tied slang.
   fit to be tied very angry or upset

noun

1. a bond, link, or fastening
2. a restriction or restraint
3. a string, wire, ribbon, etc, with which something is tied
4. a long narrow piece of material worn, esp by men, under the collar of a shirt, tied in a knot close to the throat with the ends hanging down the front US namenecktie
5. 1. an equality in score, attainment, etc, in a contest
   2. the match or competition in which such a result is attained
6. a structural member carrying tension, such as a tie beam or tie rod
7. sport a match or game in an eliminating competition

   a cup tie

8. usually plural a shoe fastened by means of laces
9. See sleeper
   the US and Canadian name for sleeper
10. music a slur connecting two notes of the same pitch indicating that the sound is to be prolonged for their joint time value
11. surveying one of two measurements running from two points on a survey line to a point of detail to fix its position
12. See bride
    lacemaking another name for bride 2

Other Words From

• re·tie verb (used with object) retied retying
• under·tie noun
• under·tie verb (used with object) undertied undertying
• well-tied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tie¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English te(i)gh “cord, rope,” Old English tēagh, tēgh, cognate with Old Norse taug rope; (verb) Middle English tien, Old English tīgan, derivative of the noun; compare Old Norse teygja “to draw”; tug, tow ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tie¹

Old English tīgan to tie; related to Old Norse teygja to draw, stretch out, Old English tēon to pull; see tug , tow ¹, tight

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. tie one on, Slang. to get drunk:

   Charlie sure tied one on last night!

2. tie the knot. knot ¹( def 18 ).

Synonym Study

See bond ¹.

Example Sentences

The president of the Senate, aka Vice President Mike Pence, breaks the tie.

From Ozy

In the event of a tie, both warlords were granted half a victory.

From FiveThirtyEight

Such strengthening of ties between community organizations and schools could present a chance for educators to make learning resonate with students of all backgrounds.

From Science News

The relationship between China and Africa has grown substantially in recent years, to include not only deeper financial ties but also geopolitical ones.

From Quartz

Supporters of the army, which maintains close ties with Beijing, have exploited dysfunction in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government to push legislation that would give it greater control over China’s infrastructure program.

From Ozy

What could be more important, to make sure that side of things is right before we tie ourselves to someone forever?

From The Daily Beast

In fact, Clark fell back first from her blows, losing his cap, tie, and badge in the melee.

From The Daily Beast

However, an article designed to act as a tie-in to the piece has been published as planned in the BBC magazine Radio Times.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, the Republicans should tie their push for infrastructure to getting folks off the couch and back to work.

From The Daily Beast

Cheney is relying on some thin evidence to tie Hussein to al-Qaida.

From The Daily Beast

First of all, wrap a portion of damp newspaper round the roots, and then tie up with dry paper.

From Project Gutenberg

Bondad sua, seor, I'll be sworn there is not one fit to tie the latchet of your shoe in the whole army.

From Project Gutenberg

But these hidden passions were before young farmer Wurzel, in his blue tie and white hat, had proposed to her.

From Project Gutenberg

His foot caught; it is unknown in what,—in a twisted tie, or perhaps in a crevice of the cracking earth.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the only thing I needed to snap my last tie with England and brace me for the struggle in America.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• allegiance
• commitment
• connection