tie
//taɪ//
Forms
- Plural
- ties
- present (v1)
- tie
- past (v2)
- tied
- past participle (v3)
- tied
- present participle
- tying
- 3rd person singular
- ties
Definitions
1.A knot; a fastening.
- Tom gave his father a tie.
2.A knot of hair, as at the back of a wig.
- Tom gave his father a tie.
3.A lace-up shoe.
- Tom gave his father a tie.
4.A necktie (item of clothing consisting of a strip of cloth tied around the neck). See also bow tie, black tie.
- Tom gave his father a tie.
1.To twist (a string, rope, or the like) around itself securely.
- Tie this rope in a knot for me, please.
- Tie the rope to this tree.
2.To form (a knot or the like) in a string or the like.
- Tie a knot in this rope for me, please.
3.To attach or fasten (one thing to another) by string or the like.
- In bond of virtuous love together tied.
- Tie him to the tree.
4.To secure (something) by string or the like.
- Not tied to rules of policy, you find / Revenge less sweet than a forgiving mind.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1654
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Uncommon
Etymology
From Middle English teye (“cord, chain”), from Old English tēag, tēah (“cord, chain”), from Proto-West Germanic *taugu, from Proto-Germanic *taugō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dewk-.
Compare Danish tov, Icelandic taug.