tie
Americanverb (used with object)
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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.
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to draw together the parts of with a knotted string or the like.
to tie a bundle tight.
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to fasten by tightening and knotting the string or strings of.
to tie one's shoes.
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to draw or fasten together into a knot, as a cord.
to tie one's shoelace.
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to form by looping and interlacing, as a knot or bow.
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to fasten, join, or connect in any way.
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Angling. to design and make (an artificial fly).
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to bind or join closely or firmly.
Great affection tied them.
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Informal. to unite in marriage.
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to confine, restrict, or limit.
The weather tied him to the house.
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to bind or oblige, as to do something.
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to make the same score as; equal in a contest.
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Music. to connect (notes) by a tie.
verb (used without object)
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to make a tie, bond, or connection.
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to make or be the same score; be equal in a contest.
The teams tied for first place in the league.
noun
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that with which anything is tied.
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a cord, string, or the like, used for tying, fastening, binding, or wrapping something.
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a necktie.
- Synonyms:
- cravat
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a low shoe fastened with a lace.
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a knot, especially an ornamental one; bow.
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anything that fastens, secures, or unites.
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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.
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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.
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a match or contest in which this occurs.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Surveying. a measurement made to determine the position of a survey station with respect to a reference mark or other isolated point.
verb phrase
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tie in
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to connect or be connected; be consistent.
His story ties in with the facts.
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Surveying. to establish the position of (a point not part of a survey control).
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to make a tie-in, especially in advertising or a sale.
The paperback book is tied in with the movie of the same title.
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tie up
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to fasten securely by tying.
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to wrap; bind.
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to hinder; impede.
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to bring to a stop; make inactive.
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to invest or place (money) in such a way as to render unavailable for other uses.
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to place (property) under such conditions or restrictions as to prevent sale or alienation.
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to moor a ship.
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to engage or occupy completely.
I can't see you now, I'm all tied up.
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tie off to tie a cord or suture around (a vein, blood vessel, or the like) so as to stop the flow within.
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tie down to limit one's activities; confine; curtail.
He finds that a desk job ties him down.
idioms
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tie one on, to get drunk.
Charlie sure tied one on last night!
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tie the knot. knot.
verb
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to fasten or be fastened with string, thread, etc
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to make (a knot or bow) in (something)
to tie a knot
tie a ribbon
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(tr) to restrict or secure
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to equal the score of a competitor or fellow candidate
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informal (tr) to unite in marriage
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music
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to execute (two successive notes of the same pitch) as though they formed one note of composite time value
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to connect (two printed notes) with a tie
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slang very angry or upset
noun
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a bond, link, or fastening
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a restriction or restraint
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a string, wire, ribbon, etc, with which something is tied
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US name: necktie. 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
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an equality in score, attainment, etc, in a contest
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the match or competition in which such a result is attained
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a structural member carrying tension, such as a tie beam or tie rod
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sport a match or game in an eliminating competition
a cup tie
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(usually plural) a shoe fastened by means of laces
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the US and Canadian name for sleeper
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music a slur connecting two notes of the same pitch indicating that the sound is to be prolonged for their joint time value
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surveying one of two measurements running from two points on a survey line to a point of detail to fix its position
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lacemaking another name for bride 2
Related Words
See bond 1.
Other Word Forms
- retie verb (used with object)
- undertie noun
- well-tied adjective
Etymology
Origin of tie
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The third big call is related and formed a surprisingly prominent part of today's press conference: to use this moment to seek closer ties with the EU.
From BBC
The UK will pursue closer economic ties with the European Union in light of the war in Iran, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
From BBC
The English trio were involved in a pair of thrilling quarter-final first legs last week but nothing has been decided, with those ties concluding on Wednesday.
From BBC
Risk sentiment spurred gains in chip stocks, which have been tied to the artificial-intelligence boom.
As a result of its economic ties, China has cultivated relationships across the region with both US allies, such as Saudi Arabia, and foes, such as Iran.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
