tie

[ tahy ]

verb (used with object)

, tied [tahyd], ty·ing [tahy, -ing].

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.

   Antonyms: loosen, loose

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.

   Synonyms: lock, yoke, knit, link, unite

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.

    Synonyms: constrain, obligate

12. to make the same score as; equal in a contest.
13. Music. to connect (notes) by a tie.

verb (used without object)

, tied [tahyd], ty·ing [tahy, -ing].

1. to make a tie, bond, or connection.
2. to make or be the same score; be equal in a contest:

   The teams tied for first place in the league.

noun

1. that with which anything is tied.
2. a cord, string, or the like, used for tying, fastening, binding, or wrapping something.

   Synonyms: ligature, band, rope

3. a necktie.

   Synonyms: cravat

4. a low shoe fastened with a lace.
5. a knot, especially an ornamental one; bow.
6. anything that fastens, secures, or unites.
7. 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.

8. 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.

9. a match or contest in which this occurs.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. alsocalledcomma 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.
13. bride ²( def 1 ).
14. Surveying. a measurement made to determine the position of a survey station with respect to a reference mark or other isolated point.

verb phrase

1. 1. to connect or be connected; be consistent:

      His story ties in with the facts.

   2. Surveying. to establish the position of (a point not part of a survey control).
   3. to make a tie-in, especially in advertising or a sale:

      The paperback book is tied in with the movie of the same title.

2. 1. to fasten securely by tying.
   2. to wrap; bind.
   3. to hinder; impede.
   4. to bring to a stop; make inactive.
   5. to invest or place (money) in such a way as to render unavailable for other uses.
   6. to place (property) under such conditions or restrictions as to prevent sale or alienation.
   7. to moor a ship.
   8. to engage or occupy completely:

      I can't see you now, I'm all tied up.

3. to tie a cord or suture around (a vein, blood vessel, or the like) so as to stop the flow within.
4. to limit one's activities; confine; curtail:

   He finds that a desk job ties him down.

tie

/ taɪ /

verb

1. whentr, often foll by up to fasten or be fastened with string, thread, etc
2. to make (a knot or bow) in (something)

   tie a ribbon

   to tie a knot

3. tr to restrict or secure
4. to equal the score of a competitor or fellow candidate
5. informal.
   tr to unite in marriage
6. music
   1. to execute (two successive notes of the same pitch) as though they formed one note of composite time value
   2. to connect (two printed notes) with a tie
7. fit to be tied slang.
   very angry or upset

noun

1. a bond, link, or fastening
2. a restriction or restraint
3. a string, wire, ribbon, etc, with which something is tied
4. a long narrow piece of material worn, esp by men, under the collar of a shirt, tied in a knot close to the throat with the ends hanging down the front US namenecktie
5. 1. an equality in score, attainment, etc, in a contest
   2. the match or competition in which such a result is attained
6. a structural member carrying tension, such as a tie beam or tie rod
7. sport a match or game in an eliminating competition

   a cup tie

8. usually plural a shoe fastened by means of laces
9. the US and Canadian name for sleeper
10. music a slur connecting two notes of the same pitch indicating that the sound is to be prolonged for their joint time value
11. surveying one of two measurements running from two points on a survey line to a point of detail to fix its position
12. lacemaking another name for bride 2

Other Words From

• re·tie verb (used with object) retied retying
• under·tie noun
• under·tie verb (used with object) undertied undertying
• well-tied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tie¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English te(i)gh “cord, rope,” Old English tēagh, tēgh, cognate with Old Norse taug rope; (verb) Middle English tien, Old English tīgan, derivative of the noun; compare Old Norse teygja “to draw”; tug, tow ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tie¹

Old English tīgan to tie; related to Old Norse teygja to draw, stretch out, Old English tēon to pull; see tug , tow ¹, tight

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. tie one on, Slang. to get drunk:

   Charlie sure tied one on last night!

2. tie the knot. knot ¹( def 18 ).

Synonym Study

See bond ¹.

Example Sentences

“Conclave” lands in a three-way tie for fourth with Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” and “Dune: Part Two.”

From Los Angeles Times

Then there’s a five-way tie to round out the Top 5.

From Los Angeles Times

Following them is a three-way tie: “Despicable Me 4,” “Moana 2” and the Australian claymation for grownups “Memoir of a Snail,” written and directed by Oscar winner Adam Elliot.

From Los Angeles Times

The Chargers held a 21-point second-half lead and the Bengals rallied to tie the score before L.A. won on a 29-yard TD run by J.K.

From Los Angeles Times

In what proved to be the final match of his outstanding career, Nadal suffered a 6-4 6-4 defeat by Botic Van de Zandschulp in the opening contest of the quarter-final tie, ending a remarkable 29-match winning streak in Davis Cup singles matches over 20 years.

From BBC

Related Words

• allegiance
• commitment
• connection