tongue-tie

[tuhng-tahy]

noun

1. impeded motion of the tongue caused especially by shortness of the frenum, which binds it to the floor of the mouth.

verb (used with object)

tongue-tied, tongue-tying 

1. to make tongue-tied.

tongue-tie

noun

1. a congenital condition in which the tongue has restricted mobility as the result of an abnormally short frenulum

Word History and Origins

Origin of tongue-tie¹

First recorded in 1545–55; back formation from tongue-tied

Example Sentences

Romy and Samuel have safe words, yet our own national conversation about sexual ethics gets tongue-tied whenever it tries to define right and wrong.

From Los Angeles Times

Make it five minutes,” the software would, in theory, be able to figure out what the tongue-tied person meant to say.

From Los Angeles Times

Fiona and Ben were told by a midwife that they would be better off getting tongue-tie surgery, also known as a lingual frenotomy, privately, as there would be a long wait on the NHS.

From BBC

She gave birth to her son in 2021 and struggled with getting him to latch due to a tongue-tie.

From BBC

An estimated 7% of babies are diagnosed with a condition called tongue-tie, in which the connection between the tongue and the floor of the mouth is too strong and limits tongue movement.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• cut off 
• gag 
• muffle 
• mute 
• muzzle 
• quash 
• quell 
• squelch 
• stifle 
• subdue 
• suppress