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Definition of tie verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

tie

verb
 
 
/taɪ/
 
/taɪ/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they tie
 
/taɪ/
 
/taɪ/
he / she / it ties
 
/taɪz/
 
/taɪz/
past simple tied
 
/taɪd/
 
/taɪd/
past participle tied
 
/taɪd/
 
/taɪd/
-ing form tying
 
/ˈtaɪɪŋ/
 
/ˈtaɪɪŋ/
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
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    fasten with string/rope

  1.  
     [transitive] to attach or hold two or more things together using string, rope, etc.; to fasten somebody/something with string, rope, etc.
    • tie something + adv./prep. She tied the newspapers in a bundle.
    • He had to tie her hands together.
    • They tied him to a chair with cable.
    • I tie back my hair when I'm cooking.
    • The box was tied with plastic string.
    • His hands were tied behind his back.
    • tie something Shall I tie the package or tape it?
    Homophones tide | tiedtide   tied
     
    /taɪd/
     
    /taɪd/
    • tide noun
      • We'll swim back to the beach before the tide turns.
    • tide verb
      • Short-term loans are designed to tide borrowers over until their next payday.
    • tied verb (past tense, past participle of tie)
      • She tied her hair up with ribbon.
    Extra Examples
    • Her hair was tied into a loose ponytail.
    • The prisoners were tied hand and foot.
    • A scarf was tied around her neck.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • firmly
    • securely
    • tightly
    • …
    preposition
    • around
    • round
    • in(to)
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
     [transitive] tie something + adv./prep. to fasten something to or around something else
    • She tied a label on to the suitcase.
    • Anything which might be blown over was tied down or moved inside.
    Extra Examples
    • Did you tie the balloons on tightly?
    • I tied the bundle onto the end of the string.
    • She tied the rope securely to a tree.
    • He tied his bathrobe firmly around him.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • firmly
    • securely
    • tightly
    • …
    preposition
    • around
    • round
    • in(to)
    • …
    See full entry
  3.  
     [transitive] tie something to make a knot in a piece of string, rope, etc.
    • to tie a ribbon
    • Can you help me tie my tie?
    • Tie the cords neatly.
    • Can you tie a bow tie?
    • He tied his shoes (= the laces on his shoes) with a double knot.
    • tie something up Tie up your shoelaces!
    • tie something in something I tied a knot in the rope.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • firmly
    • securely
    • tightly
    • …
    preposition
    • around
    • round
    • in(to)
    • …
    See full entry
  4. [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to be closed or fastened with a knot, etc.
    • The skirt ties at the waist.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • firmly
    • securely
    • tightly
    • …
    preposition
    • around
    • round
    • in(to)
    • …
    See full entry
    5.

    connect/link

  5. [transitive, usually passive] to connect or link somebody/something closely with somebody/something else
    • be tied (to something/somebody) Pay increases are tied to inflation.
    • Their company's future is closely tied to our own.
    • The house is tied to the job, so we'll have to move when I retire.
    Extra Examples
    • Production and consumption are inextricably tied together.
    • You can't stay tied to her forever.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • closely
    • intimately
    • directly
    • …
    preposition
    • to
    See full entry
    6.

    limit

  6. [transitive, usually passive] to limit somebody's freedom to act and make them unable to do everything they want to
    • be tied (by something) to be tied by a contract
    • be tied to something I want to work but I'm tied to the house with the baby.
    • Carers can be completely tied to their homes.
    • be tied to doing something I don't want to be tied to coming home at a particular time.
    7.

    in game/competition

  7. [intransitive, transitive] (of two teams, etc.) to have the same number of points synonym draw
    • tie (with somebody) England tied 2–2 with Germany in the first round.
    • tie for something They tied for second place.
    • tie something The scores are tied at 3–3.
    • Last night's vote was tied.
    Topics Games and toysc2

    8. music

  8. [transitive] tie something (in written music) to join notes with a tie
    9. see also tongue-tied
    Word OriginOld English tīgan (verb), tēah (noun), of Germanic origin.
Idioms
(tied to) somebody’s apron strings
  1. (too much under) the influence and control of somebody
    • The British prime minister is too apt to cling to Washington's apron strings.
bind/tie somebody hand and foot
  1. to tie somebody’s hands and feet together so that they cannot move or escape
  2. to prevent somebody from doing what they want by creating rules, limits, etc.
have your hands tied
  1. to be unable to do what you want to do because of rules, promises, etc.
    • I really wish I could help but my hands are tied.
    Topics Permission and obligationc2
tie somebody/yourself (up) in knots
  1. (informal) to become or make somebody very confused
    • I got myself tied up in knots when I tried to explain the legal system to them.
tie the knot
  1. (informal) to get married
tie one on
  1. (North American English, informal) to get very drunk
See tie in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee tie in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: tie

Nearby words

elaborate
adjective
 
 
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