tie

[[t]ta͟ɪ[/t]]

♦♦

ties, tying, tied

1) VERB If you tie two things together or tie them, you fasten them together with a knot.

[V n adv/prep] He tied the ends of the plastic bag together...

[V n] Mr Saunders tied her hands and feet.

2) VERB If you tie something or someone in a particular place or position, you put them there and fasten them using rope or string.

[V n to n] He had tied the dog to one of the trees near the canal...

[V n prep/adv] He tied her hands behind her back.

Syn:

attach

3) VERB If you tie a piece of string or cloth around something or tie something with a piece of string or cloth, you put the piece of string or cloth around it and fasten the ends together.

[V n prep/adv] She tied her scarf over her head...

[V n with n] Roll the meat and tie it with string...

[V-ed] Dad handed me a big box wrapped in gold foil and tied with a red ribbon.

4) VERB If you tie a knot or bow in something or tie something in a knot or bow, you fasten the ends together.

[V n] He took a short length of rope and swiftly tied a slip knot...

[V n in n] She tied a knot in a cherry stem...

[V n in n] She grabbed her hair in both hands and swept it back, tying it in a loose knot...

[V-ed] She wore a checked shirt tied in a knot above the navel.

5) V-ERG When you tie something or when something ties, you close or fasten it using a bow or knot.

[V n] He pulled on his heavy suede shoes and tied the laces.

...a long white thing around his neck that tied in front in a floppy bow.

6) N-COUNT A tie is a long narrow piece of cloth that is worn round the neck under a shirt collar and tied in a knot at the front. Ties are worn mainly by men.

Jason had taken off his jacket and loosened his tie.

7) VERB: usu passive If one thing is tied to another or two things are tied, the two things have a close connection or link.

[be V-ed to n] Their cancers are not so clearly tied to radiation exposure...

[pl-n be V-ed] My social life and business life are closely tied.

Syn:

link, connect

8) VERB: usu passive If you are tied to a particular place or situation, you are forced to accept it and cannot change it.

[be V-ed to n/-ing] They had children and were consequently tied to the school holidays...

[be V-ed to n/-ing] I wouldn't like to be tied to catching the last train home.

9) N-COUNT: usu pl, oft N prep Ties are the connections you have with people or a place.

Quebec has always had particularly close ties to France...

I can't find any tie between her and the town...

Louise herself had family ties in Nimes.

Syn:

connection, link

10) N-COUNT Railroad ties are large heavy beams that support the rails of a railway track. [AM]

(in BRIT, use sleepers)

11) V-RECIP If two people tie in a competition or game or if they tie with each other, they have the same number of points or the same degree of success.

[pl-n V] Both teams had tied on points and goal difference...

[V with n] Ronan Rafferty had tied with Frank Nobilo.

Syn:

draw

N-COUNT

Tie is also a noun.

The first game ended in a tie.

12) N-COUNT In sport, a tie is a match that is part of a competition. The losers leave the competition and the winners go on to the next round. [mainly BRIT]

They'll meet the winners of the first round tie.

13) → See also , black tie, , old school tie

your hands are tied → see hand

to tie the knot → see knot

to tie yourself in knots → see knot

Phrasal Verbs:

- tie down

- tie in with

- tie up with

- tie up

- tie up with