twine
1 Americannoun
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a strong thread or string composed of two or more strands twisted together.
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an act of twining, twisting, or interweaving.
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a coiled or twisted object or part; convolution.
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a twist or turn in anything.
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a knot or tangle.
verb (used with object)
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to twist together; interwind; interweave.
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to form by or as by twisting together.
to twine a wreath.
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to twist (one strand, thread, or the like) with another; interlace.
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to insert with a twisting or winding motion (usually followed by in orinto ).
He twined his fingers in his hair.
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to clasp or enfold (something) around something else; place by or as if by winding (usually followed by about, around, etc.).
She twined her arms about the sculpture and carried it away.
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to cause (a person, object, etc.) to be encircled with something else; wreathe; wrap.
They twined the arch with flowers.
verb (used without object)
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to wind about something; twist itself in spirals (usually followed by about, around, etc.).
Strangling vines twined about the tree.
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to wind in a sinuous or meandering course.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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string made by twisting together fibres of hemp, cotton, etc
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the act or an instance of twining
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something produced or characterized by twining
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a twist, coil, or convolution
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a knot, tangle, or snarl
verb
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(tr) to twist together; interweave
she twined the wicker to make a basket
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(tr) to form by or as if by twining
to twine a garland
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to wind or cause to wind, esp in spirals
the creeper twines around the tree
Other Word Forms
- twineable adjective
- twiner noun
Etymology
Origin of twine1
First recorded before 900; Middle English noun twin(e), twinne, , Old English twīn literally, “a double or twisted thread”; cognate with Dutch twijn, Old Norse tvinni “thread, twine”; akin to German Zwirn; twi-
Origin of twine2
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English twinen, variant of earlier twinnen, derivative of twin twin 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But on that day, the trail didn’t seem to be any bigger than a twine string.
From Literature
Opal fell asleep faster this time, one hand twined in the gold, the other clutching some straw.
From Literature
He twined round Nim’s feet in a prickly hug.
From Literature
For now, all there is to see is a staked out area, with posts connected by twine.
From BBC
The kitchen cats twined around his feet, begging for a snack.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
