tie
(taɪ)
v. tied, ty•ing,
n. v.t. 1. to bind or fasten with a cord, string, or the like: to tie a bundle.
2. to fasten by tightening and knotting the string or strings of: to tie one's shoes.
3. to draw or fasten together into a knot or bow: to tie one's shoelaces.
4. to form by looping and interlacing, as a knot or bow.
5. to bind or join closely or firmly: Great affection tied them.
6. to confine or restrict: The weather tied us to the house.
7. to oblige to do something.
8. to make the same score as; equal in a contest.
9. to connect (musical notes) by a tie.
10. to design and make (an artificial fly) for fishing.
v.i. 11. to make a tie, bond, or connection.
12. to make the same score; be equal in a contest: to tie for first place.
13. tie down, to curtail the activities of; confine: The desk job ties him down.
14. tie in, a. to connect coherently; be consistent: His story ties in with the facts.
b. to make or form a tie-in.
15. tie off, to tie a cord or suture around (a blood vessel or the like) so as to stop the flow within.
16. tie up, a. to fasten securely by tying.
b. to wrap and secure, as with string; bind.
c. to hinder or bring to a stop; impede.
d. to render (money or property) unavailable for further disposition, investment, etc.
e. to moor (a ship).
f. to engage or occupy completely: The boss is tied up till noon.
n. 17. a cord, string, or the like, used for tying, fastening, or wrapping something.
18. that with which anything is tied.
19. a necktie.
20. a low shoe fastened with a lace.
21. an ornamental knot; bow.
22. a bond, as of affection, kinship, or mutual interest: family ties.
23. a state of equality in points scored, votes obtained, etc., among competitors.
24. 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.
25. a curved line connecting two musical notes on the same line or space to indicate that the sound is to be sustained for their joint value, not repeated.
26. one of the wooden beams laid across the bed of a railroad to support the rails and keep them in place; crosstie.
Idioms: 1. tie one on, Slang. to get drunk.
2. tie the knot, Informal. to marry.
[before 900; Middle English
te(i)gh cord, rope, Old English
tēah, tēg, c. Old Norse
taug rope. compare
tug,
tow1]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.