taɪ v. & n. --v. (tying) 1 tr.
attach or
fasten with string or
cord etc. (tie
the dog to the gate; tie
his hands
together;
tied on a label). 2 tr. a
form (a string,
ribbon,
shoelace,
necktie, etc.)
into a knot or bow. b form (a knot or bow) in
this way. 3 tr.
restrict or
limit (a person) as to conditions,
occupation,
place, etc. (is tied to his family). 4 intr. (often foll. by with)
achieve the
same score or place as
another competitor (they tied at
ten games
each; tied with
her for first place). 5 tr. hold (rafters etc.) together by a
crosspiece etc. 6 tr. Mus. a
unite (written notes) by a tie. b
perform (two notes) as
one unbroken note. --n. 1 a cord or
chain etc. used for
fastening. 2 a strip of
material worn round the
collar and tied in a knot at the
front with the ends
hanging down. 3 a
thing that unites or restricts persons; a
bond or
obligation (family ties; ties of
friendship;
children are a real tie). 4 a
draw,
dead heat, or
equality of score
among competitors. 5
Brit. a match
between any pair from a
group of competing players or teams. 6 (also tie-beam etc.) a
rod or
beam holding parts of a
structure together. 7 Mus. a curved line
above or
below two notes of the same pitch indicating that
they are to be played for the combined
duration of
their time values. 8 US a
railway sleeper. 9 US a
shoe tied with a
lace. øfit to be tied colloq.
very angry. tie-break (or -breaker) a
means of deciding a
winner from competitors
who have tied. tie-dye (or tie and dye) a
method of producing dyed patterns by
tying string etc. to
protect parts of the
fabric from the
dye. tie in (foll. by with)
bring into or have a close
association or
agreement. tie-in n. 1 a
connection or association. 2 (often attrib.)
esp. US a form of
sale or advertising that offers or requires
more than a
single purchase. 3 the
joint promotion of
related commodities etc. (e.g. a
book and a film). tie-line a
transmission line connecting parts of a
system, esp. a
telephone line connecting two
private branch exchanges. tie-pin (or -clip) an
ornamental pin or clip for holding a tie in place. tie up 1
bind or fasten securely with cord etc. 2
invest or
reserve (capital etc.) so that it is
not immediately available for
use. 3
moor (a boat). 4
secure (an animal). 5
obstruct;
prevent from
acting freely. 6 secure or
complete (an
undertaking etc.). 7 (often foll. by with) = tie
in. 8 (usu. in passive)
fully occupy (a person). øøtieless adj. [OE tigan, tegan (v.), teah,
teg (n.) f. Gmc]