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
Vertical lines, from the tines of the pitchfork to the church steeple in the background, organize and order the composition. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Electric tillers have two to six tines, with more being better. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2026 The deer was a main-frame 10-pointer with a split main beam, brow tines longer than 12 inches, and a long drop point. — Scott Einsmann, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026 Foremost among Langley’s nine nods is her first-tine nomination for the CMAs’ top prize, entertainer of the year. — Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Sep. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tine. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All