2 entries under this word

Tie

Tīe, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. TIED (TIGHT, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. TYING.] [A-S. tēgean, tygan, contracted tyan, tian.]

Sense 1. To fasten with a band or cord and knot; to bind.

My son, keep thy father's commandments . . . bind them continually upon thy heart, and tie them about thy neck. Prov. vi. 20, 21.

Sense 2. To fold and make fast; to knit; to complicate.

We do not tie this knot with an intention to puzzle the argument. Burnet.

Sense 3. To unite so as not to be easily parted; to fasten; to hold. “In bond of virtuous love together tied.” Fairfax.

Sense 4. To hold or constrain by authority or moral influence; to oblige; to constrain; to restrain; to confine.

Not tied to rules of policy, you find Revenge less sweet than a forgiving mind. Dryden.

Sense 5. (Mus.) To unite, as notes, by a cross line, or by a curve line drawn over them.

To tie down. (a.) To fasten so as to prevent from rising. (b.) To restrain; to confine; to hinder from action.—To tie up, to confine; to restrain; to hinder from motion or action; as, to tie up the tongue; to tie up the hands.

Tie, n.

noun

(tī), n. [A-S. tēge, tyge, tige. See supra.]

  1. A knot; fastening.
  2. Bond; obligation, moral or legal; as, the sacred ties of friendship or of duty; the ties of allegiance.
  3. A knot of hair. Young.
  4. An equality in numbers, as of votes, and the like, which prevents either party from being victorious.
  5. (Arch. & Eng.) Any part, as a beam, a rod, or the like, for holding two bodies or parts together;—the opposite of strut and brace.
  6. (Mus.) A line, usually straight, drawn across the stems of notes, or a curved line written over or under the notes, signifying that they are to be slurred, or closely united in the performance.
A musical staff showing a treble clef and notes joined by a tie.
Tie.