grapevine

noun

grape·​vine ˈgrāp-ˌvīn 

1

: grape sense 2

2

a

: an informal person-to-person means of circulating information or gossip

heard it through the grapevine

b

: a secret source of information

Examples of grapevine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The food, by Kyiv chef Kateryna Tkachuk, is both deeply regional and softly modern: rabbit skewers grilled over grapevines; subtly-spiced tomatoes that even now, writing this, make my mouth water; a creme brûlée packed with varenyk. —Lela London, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Photo : Elite Auctions The grapevines produce 12 different varietals. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2025

Archaeologists excavating the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the ancient church in Jerusalem situated where Jesus Christ was crucified and buried, recently found evidence of ancient olive trees and grapevines. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Rows of flourishing cabernet and pinot noir grapevines further enhance the villa’s natural beauty. —Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grapevine

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine

Kids Definition

grapevine

noun

grape·​vine ˈgrāp-ˌvīn 

1

: grape sense 2

2

: an unofficial means of spreading information or gossip from person to person

Geographical Definition

Grapevine

geographical name

Grape·​vine ˈgrāp-ˌvīn 

city in northern Texas northeast of Fort Worth population 46,334