dime
dym
Dime (noun) means a US or Canadian coin worth ten cents. Example: “He fished a dime out of his pocket for the parking meter.”
noun
1
A US or Canadian coin worth ten cents.
"He fished a dime out of his pocket for the parking meter."
"In American money, a dime is worth less than a quarter."
"She dropped a dime into the machine and pressed the button."
2
Informal: a small amount of money.
"It didn't cost me a dime to fix it myself."
"I wouldn't give you a dime for that broken old radio."
"He never spent a dime on himself, only on his family."
3
Slang: a very attractive person, rated a perfect ten.
"Everyone at the party agreed she was a total dime."
"His date was a dime, and half the room turned to look."
"My friend swears every actor in that film is a dime."
verb
1
Slang: to inform on someone to the authorities.
"Someone dimed him out to the cops after the party got loud."
"Someone dimed on the shoplifters, and the police arrived within minutes."
"He worried that a jealous neighbour would dime him out."
How to use dime
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly the ten-cent coin, though slang uses stretch it to mean small change, a perfect-looking person, or turning someone in to police.
Common pairings
nickel and dime
dime a dozen
dime someone out
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Word forms
- Plural
- dimes
- Third person singular
- dimes
- Past tense
- dimed
Fill the gap
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He fished a _____ out of his pocket for the parking meter.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman "disme" ("a tenth, a tithe"), from Latin "decima (pars)", "tenth part".
Related words
Rhymes for dime
See all rhymes for dime →Frequently asked questions
What does “dime” mean?
The word “dime” means a US or Canadian coin worth ten cents. In plain terms, most commonly the ten-cent coin, though slang uses stretch it to mean small change, a perfect-looking person, or turning someone in to police.
How do you pronounce “dime”?
“Dime” is pronounced dym (/daɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “dime” in a sentence?
Here is “dime” used in a sentence: “He fished a dime out of his pocket for the parking meter.”
What part of speech is “dime”?
Depending on how it is used, “dime” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dime” come from?
The word “dime” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman "disme" ("a tenth, a tithe"), from Latin "decima (pars)", "tenth part".
Is “dime” a common word?
“Dime” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dime” have?
“Dime” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a US or Canadian coin worth ten cents.
What is the difference between a "dime" and a "nickel"?
A dime is a US or Canadian coin worth ten cents, while a nickel is worth five cents, making the dime worth double the nickel despite being physically smaller. This size-versus-value mismatch often surprises people unfamiliar with US coinage.
What does it mean to call someone a "dime" in slang?
In slang, calling someone a "dime" means describing them as a very attractive person, rated a perfect ten out of ten. This informal usage is common in casual conversation, particularly among younger speakers, and has nothing to do with the coin's monetary value.
What does it mean to "dime" someone out?
To "dime" someone, or "dime someone out," is slang meaning to inform on them to the authorities, similar to snitching or reporting wrongdoing. This usage is informal and often carries a negative connotation toward the person doing the informing.
