The 24-70mm II uses an 11-blade aperture, so its starbursts show 22 tines.—PCMAG, 16 May 2024 Load cups and glasses on the top rack and upside down between the tines to reduce the risk of breakage.—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024 The deer has a magnificent frame, long tines, lengthy beams, and world-beating brow tines.—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2024 Its 14-point bursts don't have crisp tines and introduce some false color.—PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2024 The main beams are both 26 1/8 inches, and the rack sports impressive tine length, too.—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2024 It is suspected that the volatile organic compounds (benzene, formaldehyde, etc.) and heavy metals (nickel, tine, lead, etc.) associated with e-cigarettes can cause not only lung damage but damage to the heart and brain.—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 8 Feb. 2024 Microwave on high for 8 minutes, then pierce it with the tines of a fork to check doneness.—Nancy Baggett, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The tines are often thinner and curved to make scooping up materials easier.—Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tine.' 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
Noun
Middle English tind, from Old English; akin to Old High German zint point, tine
Verb
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse tȳna to lose, destroy, tjōn injury, loss — more at teen entry 2
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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