vine

[vahyn]

noun

1. any plant having a long, slender stem that trails or creeps on the ground or climbs by winding itself about a support or holding fast with tendrils or claspers.

2. the stem of any such plant.

3. a grape plant.

vine

¹

/ vaɪn /

noun

1. any of various plants, esp the grapevine, having long flexible stems that creep along the ground or climb by clinging to a support by means of tendrils, leafstalks, etc

2. the stem of such a plant

Vine

²

/ vaɪn /

noun

1. Barbara. See (Ruth) Rendell

Other Word Forms

• vineless adjective
• vinelike adjective
• viny adjective
• vined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vine¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French vi ( g ) ne < Latin vīnea vine(yard), equivalent to vīn ( um ) wine + -ea, feminine of -eus -eous

Word History and Origins

Origin of vine¹

C13: from Old French vine, from Latin vīnea vineyard, from vīneus belonging to wine, from vīnum wine

Idioms and Phrases

see clinging vine; wither on the vine.

Example Sentences

We walked through tree branches, tangled vines and sharp hanging stalactites, over roots as thick as a human leg, and carcasses of birds, mice and God knows what else in varying states of decay.

From Salon

A pair of tragedies wind together like vines, although from the dog’s point of view, the distinction between them isn’t always obvious.

From Los Angeles Times

Beyond the shabby Soviet-era blocks of Chisinau city suburbs, a short drive leads to field upon field lined with grape vines.

From BBC

Both from a farming background, they have 8,000 vines suitable for northern climates and are expecting a "bumper crop" after the hot, dry summer.

From BBC

The rows of melons stretch to the horizon, vines twisted low in cracked soil.

From Los Angeles Times