Main Entry:

¹tie

Pronunciation:

\ˈtī\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English teg, tye, from Old English tēag; akin to Old Norse taug rope, Old English tēon to pull — more at tow

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: a line, ribbon, or cord used for fastening, uniting, or drawing something closed ; especially : shoelace b (1): a structural element (as a rod or angle iron) holding two pieces together : a tension member in a construction (2): any of the transverse supports to which railroad rails are fastened to keep them in line2: something that serves as a connecting link: as a: a moral or legal obligation to someone or something typically constituting a restraining power, influence, or duty b: a bond of kinship or affection 3: a curved line that joins two musical notes of the same pitch to denote a single tone sustained through the time value of the two4 a: an equality in number (as of votes or scores) b: equality in a contest ; also : a contest that ends in a draw5: a method or style of tying or knotting6: something that is knotted or is to be knotted when worn: as a: necktie b: a low laced shoe : oxford

— tie·less \-ləs\ adjective