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.

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, pining 

1. to yearn deeply; suffer with longing; long painfully (often followed byfor ).

   to pine for one's home and family.

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

   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, pining 

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. to become ill, feeble, or thin through worry, longing, etc

3. archaic,  (tr) to mourn or grieve for

Pine

³

/ paɪn /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• pinelike 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

There we saw it, the blue of the lake shimmering through the pines and wild blackberry bushes.

From Los Angeles Times

Federal officials designated the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory, a remote area spanning sagebrush steppe and pinyon pine forest east of Mono Lake.

From Los Angeles Times

Each pine marten has been fitted with a radio collar so researchers can follow their fortunes over the next six to nine months.

From BBC

When Daisy was a pup, Koerner began planting dozens of native plants near the Aleppo pines and fig trees, creating what he called their campground arboretum.

From Los Angeles Times

There are no protections to prevent healthy deodar cedars, sycamores or pines from being ripped down, as there are in Pasadena.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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