Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

tie

 - 6 dictionary results

tie

[tahy] verb, tied, ty⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. 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.
2. to draw together the parts of with a knotted string or the like: to tie a bundle tight.
3. to fasten by tightening and knotting the string or strings of: to tie one's shoes.
4. to draw or fasten together into a knot, as a cord: to tie one's shoelace.
5. to form by looping and interlacing, as a knot or bow.
6. to fasten, join, or connect in any way.
7. Angling. to design and make (an artificial fly).
8. to bind or join closely or firmly: Great affection tied them.
9. Informal. to unite in marriage.
10. to confine, restrict, or limit: The weather tied him to the house.
11. to bind or oblige, as to do something.
12. to make the same score as; equal in a contest.
13. Music. to connect (notes) by a tie.
–verb (used without object)
14. to make a tie, bond, or connection.
15. to make or be the same score; be equal in a contest: The teams tied for first place in the league.
–noun
16. that with which anything is tied.
17. a cord, string, or the like, used for tying, fastening, binding, or wrapping something.
18. a necktie.
19. a low shoe fastened with a lace.
20. a knot, esp. an ornamental one; bow.
21. anything that fastens, secures, or unites.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. a match or contest in which this occurs.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. Also called, 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.
28. bride 2 (def. 1).
29. Surveying. a measurement made to determine the position of a survey station with respect to a reference mark or other isolated point.
30. tie down, to limit one's activities; confine; curtail: He finds that a desk job ties him down.
31. tie in,
a. to connect or be connected; be consistent: His story ties in with the facts.
b. Surveying. to establish the position of (a point not part of a survey control).
c. to make a tie-in, esp. in advertising or a sale: The paperback book is tied in with the movie of the same title.
32. tie off, to tie a cord or suture around (a vein, blood vessel, or the like) so as to stop the flow within.
33. tie up,
a. to fasten securely by tying.
b. to wrap; bind.
c. to hinder; impede.
d. to bring to a stop; make inactive.
e. to invest or place (money) in such a way as to render unavailable for other uses.
f. to place (property) under such conditions or restrictions as to prevent sale or alienation.
g. to moor a ship.
h. to engage or occupy completely: I can't see you now, I'm all tied up.
34. tie one on, Slang. to get drunk: Charlie sure tied one on last night!
35. tie the knot. knot 1 (def. 18).

Origin:
bef. 900; (n.) ME te(i)gh cord, rope, OE tēagh, tēgh, c. ON taug rope; (v.) ME tien, OE tīgan, deriv. of the n.; cf. ON teygja to draw. See tug, tow 1


6. unite, link, knit, yoke, lock. 11. obligate, constrain. 17. rope, band, ligature. 18. cravat. 22. See bond.


1. loose, loosen.

bride

2[brahyd; Fr. breed]
–noun
1. Also called bar, leg, tie. a connection consisting of a thread or a number of threads for joining various solid parts of a design in needlepoint lace.
2. an ornamental bonnet string.

Origin:
1865–70; < F: bonnet-string, bridle, OF < Gmc; see bridle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To tie
tie   (tī)   
v.   tied, ty·ing (tī'ĭng), ties

v.   tr.
  1. To fasten or secure with or as if with a cord, rope, or strap: tied the kite to a post; tie up a bundle.

  2. To fasten by drawing together the parts or sides and knotting with strings or laces: tied her shoes.

    1. To make by fastening ends or parts: tie a knot.

    2. To put a knot or bow in: tie a neck scarf.

    3. To equal (an opponent or an opponent's score) in a contest.

    4. To equal an opponent's score in (a contest): tied the game with minutes remaining.

  3. To confine or restrict as if with cord: duties that tied him to the office.

  4. To bring together in relationship; connect or unite: friends who were tied by common interests; people who are tied by blood or marriage.

    1. To equal (an opponent or an opponent's score) in a contest.

    2. To equal an opponent's score in (a contest): tied the game with minutes remaining.

  5. Music To join (notes) by a tie.

v.   intr.
  1. To be fastened or attached: The apron ties at the back.

  2. To achieve equal scores in a contest.

n.  
  1. A cord, string, or other means by which something is tied.

  2. Something that connects or unites; a link: a blood tie; marital ties.

  3. A necktie.

  4. A beam or rod that joins parts and gives support.

  5. One of the beams, usually made of wood, that are laid across a railroad bed to secure the rails.

    1. An equality of scores, votes, or performance in a contest: The election ended in a tie.

    2. A contest so resulting; a draw.

  6. Music A curved line above or below two notes of the same pitch, indicating that the tone is to be sustained for their combined duration.

  7. Nautical To secure or be secured to a shore or pier; dock.

  8. To impede the progress of; block: The accident tied up traffic.

  9. To keep occupied; engage: She was tied up in a meeting all morning. The phone was tied up for an hour.

  10. To place (funds) so as to make inaccessible for other uses: tied up her cash in long-term investments.

Phrasal Verb(s):
tie inTo bring into or have a close or effective relation; connect or coordinate: two events that do not tie in; tying the movie promotion in with the book sales.
tie intoTo attack energetically.
tie up
  1. Nautical To secure or be secured to a shore or pier; dock.

  2. To impede the progress of; block: The accident tied up traffic.

  3. To keep occupied; engage: She was tied up in a meeting all morning. The phone was tied up for an hour.

  4. To place (funds) so as to make inaccessible for other uses: tied up her cash in long-term investments.


Idiom(s):
tie one on Slang To become intoxicated; go on a drinking spree.

Idiom(s):
tie the knot Slang
  1. To get married.

  2. To perform a marriage ceremony.


[Middle English tien, from Old English tīgan; see deuk- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

tie  (n.)
"that with which anything is tied," O.E. teag, from P.Gmc. *taugo (cf. O.N. taug "tie," tygill "string"), from PIE *deuk- "to pull, to lead" (cf. O.E. teon "to draw, pull, drag;" see duke). Fig. sense is recorded from 1555. Meaning "equality between competitors" is first found 1680, from notion of a connecting link (tie-breaker is recorded from 1961). Sense of "necktie, cravat" first recorded 1761. The railway sense of "transverse sleeper" is from 1857, Amer.Eng. The verb is from O.E. tigan, tiegan. In the noun sense of "connection," tie-in dates from 1934. Tie-dye first attested 1904. Tie one on "get drunk" is recorded from 1951.

bride 
O.E. bryd, from P.Gmc. *bruthiz "woman being married" (cf. O.Fris. breid, Du. bruid, O.H.G. brut, Ger. Braut "bride"). Goth. cognate bruþs, however, meant "daughter-in-law," and the form of the word borrowed from O.H.G. into M.L. (bruta) and O.Fr. (bruy) only had this sense. In ancient IE custom, the married woman went to live with her husband's family, so the only "newly-wed female" in such a household would be the daughter-in-law. On the same notion, some trace the word itself to the PIE verbal root *bru- "to cook, brew, make broth," as this was the daughter-in-law's job. Bridesmaid is from 1552 (as bridemaid).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Abbreviations & Acronyms
TIE
  1. Telemedicine Information Exchange

  2. Treatment Improvement Exchange

The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see tie on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: