dime

[dahym]

noun

1. a cupronickel-clad coin of the U.S. and Canada, the 10th part of a dollar, equal to 10 cents.

2. Slang.

   1. ten dollars.

   2. a 10-year prison sentence.

   3. dime bag.

dime

/ daɪm /

noun

1. a coin of the US and Canada, worth one tenth of a dollar or ten cents

2. very cheap or common

Word History and Origins

Origin of dime¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French di ( s ) me < Latin decima tenth part, tithe, noun use of feminine of decimus tenth, derivative of decem ten

Word History and Origins

Origin of dime¹

C14: from Old French disme, from Latin decimus tenth, from decem ten

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. a dime a dozen, so abundant that the value has decreased; readily available.

More idioms and phrases containing dime

• drop a dime
• get off the dime
• not worth a dime
• on a dime

Related Words

• reveal