tine

1 of 2

noun

ˈtīn 

1

: a slender pointed projecting part : prong

2

: a pointed branch of an antler

tined

ˈtīnd 

adjective

tine

2 of 2

verb

tined ˈtīnd  or tint ˈtint  ; tining ˈtī-niŋ 

transitive verb

dialectal British : lose

intransitive verb

dialectal British : to become lost

Examples of tine in a Sentence

Noun

One of the fork's tines was bent.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The broad fork, a big garden fork with very heavy tines that sink into and lift soil, is another tool that's used to turn soil. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2025

The piece was created using a process called knapping in which a tool like an antler tine would be used to gradually remove small flakes from the larger flint piece until it was shaped, archaeologists said. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025

Use the tine side for raking debris into piles and for rough grading and then flip the rake over and use the bow side for smoothing. —Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 15 Feb. 2025

This moves the total of the lengths of both these tines to the difference column, dropping its typical Boone and Crockett Score to 180 points. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025

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

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for tine

• brine
• cline
• dine
• fein
• fine
• gwine
• hine
• jain
• klein
• kline
• line
• mine

Kids Definition

tine

noun

ˈtīn

: a slender pointed part : prong

the tines of a fork