noun
tine
tyn
Tine (noun) means a pointed prong, such as one of the points of a fork or a comb tooth. Example: “One of the fork's tines was bent out of shape.”
noun
1
A pointed prong, such as one of the points of a fork or a comb tooth.
"Sitting at the table one day, I held the fork in my left hand and pierced a piece of fried chicken. I put the knife through the second tine, as we had been strictly taught, and began to saw against the bone."
— Maya Angelou (1969)
"The tines of the fork were quite evidently of iron or steel, the girl did not know which, while the handle and the spoon were of the same material as the smaller vessels."
— Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan the Untamed (1920)
"One of the fork's tines was bent out of shape."
2
A branch or point on a deer's antler.
"The stag's antlers had six tines on each side."
How to use tine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pointed prong on a fork, rake, or antler.
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Word forms
- Plural
- tines
- Third person singular
- tines
- Past tense
- tined
- Comparative
- tiner
- Superlative
- tinest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
One of the fork's _____ was bent out of shape.
Etymology
From Old English tind, an ancient Germanic word for a point or spike, related to "tooth".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tine
See all rhymes for tine →Frequently asked questions
What does “tine” mean?
The word “tine” means a pointed prong, such as one of the points of a fork or a comb tooth. In plain terms, a pointed prong on a fork, rake, or antler.
How do you pronounce “tine”?
“Tine” is pronounced tyn (/taɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “tine” in a sentence?
Here is “tine” used in a sentence: “One of the fork's tines was bent out of shape.”
What part of speech is “tine”?
“Tine” is a noun.
Where does the word “tine” come from?
The word “tine” comes from Old English. From Old English tind, an ancient Germanic word for a point or spike, related to "tooth".
How many meanings does “tine” have?
“Tine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pointed prong, such as one of the points of a fork or a comb tooth.
