Main Entry:

dime

Pronunciation:

\ˈdīm\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, tenth part, tithe, from Anglo-French disme, dime, from Latin decima, from feminine of decimus tenth, from decem ten — more at ten

Date:

1786

1 a: a coin of the United States worth ¹⁄₁₀ dollar b: a petty sum of money2: a Canadian 10-cent piece3slang : a packet containing 10 dollars worth of an illicit drug (as marijuana) —called also dime bag

— a dime a dozen

: so plentiful or commonplace as to be of little esteem or slight value

— on a dime

1: in a very small area <these cars can turn on a dime>2: instantly