grapevine

[ greyp-vahyn ]
See synonyms for grapevine on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a vine that bears grapes.

  2. Also called grape·vine tel·e·graph [greyp-vahyn tel-i-graf] /ˈgreɪpˌvaɪn ˈtɛl ɪˌgræf/ . a person-to-person method of spreading rumors, gossip, information, etc., by informal or unofficial conversation, letter writing, or the like.

  1. a private or secret source of information.

Origin of grapevine

1
1645–55; 1860–65, Americanismfor def. 2; grape + vine

Other definitions for Grapevine (2 of 2)

Grapevine
[ greyp-vahyn ]

noun
  1. a town in N Texas.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for grapevine

grapevine

/ (ˈɡreɪpˌvaɪn) /


noun
  1. any of several vitaceous vines of the genus Vitis, esp V. vinifera of E Asia, widely cultivated for its fruit (grapes): family Vitaceae

  2. informal an unofficial means of relaying information, esp from person to person

  1. a wrestling hold in which a wrestler entwines his own leg around his opponent's and exerts pressure against various joints

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