tongue-tie

1 of 2

verb

tongue-tied; tongue-tying; tongue-ties

transitive verb

: to deprive of speech or the power of distinct articulation

tongue-tie

2 of 2

noun

: a congenital defect characterized by limited mobility of the tongue due to a short frenulum

Examples of tongue-tie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Routines would devolve into bickering, of an escalating volume, as Tom grew tongue-tied and irate in equal measure. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2023 The most jaded people in the world get very tongue-tied and really dumbfounded. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2023 Your professional expression may become tongue-tied when the moon opposes Mercury retrograde. USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023 They are now largely remembered for encounters that left Mr. DeSantis angry or tongue-tied. Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023 Today’s young people, in this telling, have ushered in the tyranny of the tongue-tied. Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 20 July 2023 But on this mild March afternoon in Austin, Texas, Rather is rather tongue-tied. Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 June 2023 Kuiper doesn't fumble over his words or get tongue-tied. Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 7 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tongue-tie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from tongue-tied

First Known Use

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tongue-tie was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near tongue-tie

Cite this Entry

“Tongue-tie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tongue-tie. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

tongue-tie

noun
: a congenital defect characterized by limited mobility of the tongue due to shortness of the frenulum : ankyloglossia

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