pine

noun, often attributive

\ˈpīn

Definition of pine

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : any of a genus (Pinus of the family Pinaceae, the pine family) of coniferous evergreen trees that have slender elongated needles and include some valuable timber trees and ornamentals

2 : the straight-grained white or yellow usually durable and resinous wood of a pine varying from extreme softness in the white pine to hardness in the longleaf pine

3 : any of various Australian coniferous trees (as of the genera Callitris or Araucaria)

4 : pineapple

5 : bench sense 1c

pine

verb

pined; pining

Definition of pine (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to lose vigor, health, or flesh (as through grief) : languish

2 : to yearn intensely and persistently especially for something unattainable they still pined for their lost wealth

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Choose the Right Synonym for pine

Verb

long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something. long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain. longed for some rest yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing. yearned for a stage career hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire. always hankering for money pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible. pined for a lost love hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need. hungered for a business of his own thirsted for power

Examples of pine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Single-track trails in grassy meadows soon became double tracks that paralleled a wide bay before heading through pine and eucalyptus forests cloaked in rich, green ferns. — Doug Hansen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hiking Spain's wild coast," 12 July 2018 The sanctuary consists of 1,700 acres of open water, tidal freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, upland and riparian forest, creeks, meadows, pine and sand barrens, and fields along the Patuxent River. — Janene Holzberg, baltimoresun.com, "Jug Bay set to unveil trails, Nature Discovery Place at new Waysons Corner preserve," 4 July 2018 This natural pool, located in one of Florida’s newest state parks, sits in a limestone basin along the Withlacoochee River, surrounded by magnificent pines and hardwoods, all done up in hanging moss. — Brent Crane, Outside Online, "America's Best Swimming Holes," 1 July 2018 Firefighters, with help from aircraft, got a quick jump on a fire near Silverthorne after it was reported Tuesday and have managed to keep it from spreading beyond about 91 acres in heavy timber, including trees killed by pine beetles. — Washington Post, "‘Like dominoes’: Utah homes burn as wildfires menace US West," 13 June 2018 The tournament pines for tragedy, for surprises—and wild unpredictability may, in fact, be the best side benefit of soccer’s murky moral arena. — Alejandro Chacoff, The Atlantic, "Soccer Has No Interest in Fairness," 12 July 2018 Meanwhile, Phoenix Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds had his players starting up at 5:30 in the morning in the cool pines of Flagstaff. — Richard Obert, azcentral, "Scenes from Arizona high school football preseason camps," 10 July 2018 The trail starts near level, a mix of packed trail in pines with patches of volcanic rubble, for 1.5 miles en route to the base of the Cinder Cone. — Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, "Cinder Cone’s mystery unveiled in Land of Smoke," 6 June 2018 That row of pines dates to the 1930s and the Work Progress Administration. — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, "Photos: Log cabin in Metamora creates lavish comforts of home," 22 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Pacers fans have had no reason to pine for Paul George this season, not with both Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis smashing expectations during a surprising thrill ride. — Ben Golliver, SI.com, "2018 NBA Playoffs: The Biggest Questions For Each Series," 12 Apr. 2018 There’s some humor, and some cool monsters, and a seductive droid named L3 (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) whom Lando seems to pine for. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "Solo: A Star Wars Story is the safest, most forgettable Star Wars movie," 24 May 2018 Ndegeocello, 49, may pine for her teen years, but any nostalgia is filtered on her new album through the prism of age and wisdom. — George Varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Meshell Ndegeocello San Diego-bound to promote 'Ventriloquism,' a covers album with many twists," 6 May 2018 In a cruel twist of fate, their characters continued to pine for each other on the show for another two years. — Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, "22 Celebrities Who Dated Their Co-Stars IRL," 6 Feb. 2018 In a cruel twist of fate, their characters continued to pine for each other on the show for another two years. — Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, "22 Celebrities Who Dated Their Co-Stars IRL," 6 Feb. 2018 Some in the Bay Area who pine for the fruit orchards of the Valley of Heart’s Delight might want to keep Silicon Valley as a replacement label. — Owen Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, "Silicon Valley faces an uncertain future — starting with its definition," 12 Mar. 2018 In a cruel twist of fate, their characters continued to pine for each other on the show for another two years. — Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, "22 Celebrities Who Dated Their Co-Stars IRL," 6 Feb. 2018 In a cruel twist of fate, their characters continued to pine for each other on the show for another two years. — Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, "22 Celebrities Who Dated Their Co-Stars IRL," 6 Feb. 2018

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

History and Etymology for pine

Noun

Middle English, from Old English pīn, from Latin pinus; probably akin to Greek pitys pine

Verb

Middle English, from Old English pīnian to suffer, from *pīn punishment, from Latin poena — more at pain

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Last Updated

19 Oct 2018

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Time Traveler for pine

The first known use of pine was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for pine

pine

noun

English Language Learners Definition of pine

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a tree that has long, thin needles instead of leaves and that stays green throughout the year

: the wood of a pine tree that is often used to make furniture

pine

verb

English Language Learners Definition of pine (Entry 2 of 2)

: to become thin and weak because of sadness or loss

See the full definition for pine in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pine

noun

\ˈpīn

Kids Definition of pine

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an evergreen tree that has cones, narrow needles for leaves, and a wood that ranges from very soft to hard

pine

verb

pined; pining

Kids Definition of pine (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to become thin and weak because of sadness or worry

2 : to long for very much She pined for home.

pine

noun

\ˈpīn

Medical Definition of pine

(Entry 1 of 2)

: any tree of the genus Pinus

pine

noun

Medical Definition of pine (Entry 2 of 2)

: a dietary deficiency disease of sheep or cattle marked by anemia, malnutrition, and general debility specifically : such a disease due to cobalt deficiency — compare morton mains disease