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noun

grapevine

GRAYP-vyn

Grapevine (noun) means the woody vine on which grapes grow. Example: “The grapevine climbed along the old stone wall of the vineyard.”

noun
1
The woody vine on which grapes grow.
"The grapevine climbed along the old stone wall of the vineyard."
2
An informal, person-to-person network through which rumors and news travel.
"I heard through the grapevine that they're getting engaged."

How to use grapevine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the actual plant grapes grow on, or, figuratively, word-of-mouth gossip.

Common mistake

"Hear through the grapevine" is a fixed idiom for hearing unofficial news or gossip — don't take it literally.

Common pairings
hear it through the grapevine office grapevine

Word forms

grapevined past tense, grapevines plural, grapevines singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ climbed along the old stone wall of the vineyard.

Etymology

A straightforward compound of "grape" and "vine."

pipeline grape grape vine word of mouth

Related words

Rhymes for grapevine

See all rhymes for grapevine →

Frequently asked questions

What does “grapevine” mean?

The word “grapevine” means the woody vine on which grapes grow. In plain terms, either the actual plant grapes grow on, or, figuratively, word-of-mouth gossip.

How do you pronounce “grapevine”?

“Grapevine” is pronounced GRAYP-vyn (/ˈɡɹeɪp.vaɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “grapevine” in a sentence?

Here is “grapevine” used in a sentence: “The grapevine climbed along the old stone wall of the vineyard.”

What part of speech is “grapevine”?

“Grapevine” is a noun.

How many meanings does “grapevine” have?

“Grapevine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the woody vine on which grapes grow.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial