tine

1 of 2

noun

ˈtīn How to pronounce tine (audio)
Synonyms of tinenext
1
: a slender pointed projecting part : prong
2
: a pointed branch of an antler
tined
ˈtīnd How to pronounce tine (audio)
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
If your dishwasher tines have lost their coating and now have rusty, crusty tips, there’s a cap for that! — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026 Glasses should be placed between tines (not over them), and larger items should be placed on the bottom rack with smaller items on the top shelf. — The Spruce, 29 July 2026 Use a rake with short straight tines to pull up thatch from small areas. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 June 2026 One butcher joined the march with the longest carving fork Ursula had ever seen, twin tines glittering sharp overhead. — Literary Hub, 3 June 2026 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

Rhymes for tine

See All Rhymes for tine

Browse Nearby Words

tin dioxide
tine
tinea
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Cite this Entry

“Tine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tine. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tine

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

More from Merriam-Webster on tine

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tine

Nglish: Translation of tine for Spanish Speakers

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