tongue-tie

[ tuhng-tahy ]

noun

1. impeded motion of the tongue caused especially by shortness of the frenum, which binds it to the floor of the mouth.

verb (used with object)

, tongue-tied, tongue-ty·ing.

1. to make tongue-tied.

tongue-tie

noun

1. a congenital condition in which the tongue has restricted mobility as the result of an abnormally short frenulum

Word History and Origins

Origin of tongue-tie¹

First recorded in 1545–55; back formation from tongue-tied

Example Sentences

Make it five minutes,” the software would, in theory, be able to figure out what the tongue-tied person meant to say.

From Los Angeles Times

Fiona and Ben were told by a midwife that they would be better off getting tongue-tie surgery, also known as a lingual frenotomy, privately, as there would be a long wait on the NHS.

From BBC

She gave birth to her son in 2021 and struggled with getting him to latch due to a tongue-tie.

From BBC

An estimated 7% of babies are diagnosed with a condition called tongue-tie, in which the connection between the tongue and the floor of the mouth is too strong and limits tongue movement.

From Science Daily

Ms. Henstrom is part of a booming industry of lactation consultants and dentists that aggressively markets the procedures, even for babies that have no signs of tongue-tie and despite a small risk of serious complications.

From New York Times

Related Words

• cut off
• gag
• muffle
• mute
• muzzle
• quash
• quell
• squelch
• stifle
• subdue
• suppress