grapevine

noun grape·vine \ ˈgrāp-ˌvīn \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Definition of grapevine

1 : grape 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

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Recent Examples of grapevine from the Web

Perform 2-4 sets of grapevine and squats resting 30-60 seconds between sets.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stepping up your training can boost your heart, lower-body muscles," 11 July 2018
Since the 19th century, when a plague of phylloxera ravaged most of Europe’s grapevines, the solution was to graft the European vines onto American roots, which are immune to the aphid.

— eric asimov, New York Times, "The Grape From Manchuela," 21 June 2018
Under the glow of five grapevine chandeliers, chefs Wayne Nguyen (Maba Pan-Asian Diner), Martin Stayer (Nobie's) and Alyssa Dole (Pinkerton's Barbecue) served a true farm-to-table, family-style meal.

— amber elliott, Houston Chronicle, "Celebrity "Chefs in the Field" cater Recipe for Success's first Sunday supper at Hope Farms," 27 June 2018
First, Luann learns through the grapevine that Ramona desperately tried to gain an invite to Tom’s New Year’s Eve party, which was held on the same boat where the de Lesseps-D’Agostinos hosted their rehearsal dinner one year prior.

— refinery29.com, "Luann Told The Entire Side Of Her Arrest Story On RHONY," 21 June 2018
The industry is losing the arms race to the pathogens that continually evolve and attack the grapevines.

— kevin begos, Smithsonian, "The Quest to Grow the First Great American Wine Grape," 6 June 2018
The old Italian men pass their mornings near the top of the hill, tending thick grapevines and rows of fava beans, smoking crumbling Toscano cigars, staying out of the house.

— joe mozingo, latimes.com, "One of L.A.'s oldest community gardens thrived for decades. Then the water wars began.," 4 June 2018
Karaoke Skip: Drive one knee up and over the opposite leg as you side skip/grapevine in one direction.

— elizabeth carey, Outside Online, "How to Warm Up for a Run," 10 May 2018
Facebook has launched a thousand metaphors, earning comparisons to a cable company, a railroad, a virtual supranational government, and a grapevine for lies.

— derek thompson, The Atlantic, "Why Can’t Facebook Tell the Truth?," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grapevine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.