tine

1 of 2

noun

1
: a slender pointed projecting part : prong
2
: a pointed branch of an antler
tined adjective

tine

2 of 2

verb

tined ˈtīnd How to pronounce tine (audio) or tint ˈtint How to pronounce tine (audio) ; tining ˈtī-niŋ How to pronounce tine (audio)

transitive verb

dialectal British : lose

intransitive verb

dialectal British : to become lost

Examples of tine in a Sentence

Noun One of the fork's tines was bent.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This moves the total of the lengths of both these tines to the difference column, dropping its typical Boone and Crockett Score to 180 points. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025 Tuck the overhang under, then seal the top crust to the bottom crust by pressing gently all along the edges with the tines of a fork. Ellen Gray, Saveur, 15 May 2025 As a result, the tine on the opposite side that roughly correlates is thus an unmatched non-symmetry point and is therefore an abnormal point. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025 Plug aerators remove uniform pieces of soil with hollow tines. Kate Puhala, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for tine

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tind, from Old English; akin to Old High German zint point, tine

Verb

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse tȳna to lose, destroy, tjōn injury, loss — more at teen entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of tine was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tine. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

tine

noun
ˈtīn
: a slender pointed part : prong
the tines of a fork

More from Merriam-Webster on tine

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