tie

verb (ties, tying, tied)

• 1 [with object and usually with adverbial] attach or fasten with string or similar cord:Gabriel tied up his horse they tied Max to a chair her long hair was tied back in a bow
• fasten (something) by means of its strings or by forming the ends into a knot or bow:Lewis tied on his apron
• form (a string, ribbon, or lace) into a knot or bow: Renwick bent to tie his shoelace
• form (a knot or bow) in a ribbon, lace, etc.:tie a knot in one end of the cotton
• [no object] be fastened with a knot or bow:a sarong which ties at the waist

• 2 [with object] restrict or limit (someone) to a particular situation or place:she didn’t want to be like her mother, tied to a feckless man she didn’t want to be tied down by a full-time job

• 3 [with object] connect; link:self-respect is closely tied up with the esteem in which one is held by one’s fellows
• hold together by a crosspiece or tie:ceiling joists are used to tie the rafter feet
• Music unite (written notes) by a tie.
• Music perform (two notes) as one unbroken note.

• 4 [no object] achieve the same score or ranking as another competitor or team:Norman needed a par to tie with Nicklaus [with object]:Muir tied the score at 5-5

noun (plural ties)

• 1a piece of string, cord, or similar used for fastening or tying something:he tightened the tie of his robe
• US a shoe tied with a lace.

• 2a rod or beam holding parts of a structure together.
• North Americanshort for cross tie.
• Music a curved line above or below two notes of the same pitch indicating that they are to be played for the combined duration of their time values.

• 3 (usually ties) a thing that unites or links people:it is important that we keep family ties strong
• a thing that restricts someone’s freedom of action:some cities and merchants were freed from feudal ties

• 4a strip of material worn round the collar and tied in a knot at the front with the ends hanging down, typically forming part of a man’s smart or formal outfit: his hand went up to his collar and started to loosen his tie

• 5a result in a game or other competitive situation in which two or more competitors or teams have the same score or ranking; a draw:there was a tie for first place
• Cricket a game in which the scores are level and both sides have completed their innings, as distinct from a draw (a game left incomplete through lack of time).

• 6British a sports match between two or more players or teams in which the winners proceed to the next round of the competition: Swindon Town have won themselves a third round tie against Oldham