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."
"Although many grapevines have geographical names, these rarely reflect their real origin, if known at all."
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- grapevines
- Third person singular
- grapevines
- Past tense
- grapevined
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."
Synonyms
View more →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.
