tie

II. tie2 S3 W3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1. MEN’S CLOTHES a long narrow piece of cloth tied in a knot around the neck, worn by men:
I wear a shirt and tie at work. ⇨ ↑black-tie, ↑bow tie
2. CONNECTION/RELATIONSHIP [usually plural] a strong relationship between people, groups, or countries
close/strong ties
the importance of strong family ties
tie between/with
close ties between the two countries
economic/diplomatic/personal etc ties
Japan’s strong economic ties with Taiwan
the ties of marriage/friendship/love etc ⇨ ↑old school tie
3. RESULT [usually singular] the result of a game, competition, or election when two or more people or teams get the same number of points, votes etc SYN draw British English:
The match ended in a tie.
4. FOR CLOSING SOMETHING a piece of string, wire etc used to fasten or close something such as a bag
5. GAME British English one game, especially of football, that is part of a larger competition
tie against
England’s World Cup tie against Argentina
first round/second round etc tie
home/away tie
6. PREVENT YOU FROM DOING SOMETHING something that means you must stay in one place, job etc or prevents you from being free to do what you want:
If you enjoy travelling, young children can be a tie.
7. RAILWAY American English a heavy piece of wood or metal supporting a railway track SYN sleeper British English
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ties
▪ close/strong ties He had developed close ties with many Republican governors.
▪ family/blood ties Family ties have been weakened by older people living apart from their children.
▪ personal ties Strong personal ties connect her to the area.
▪ emotional ties He was a loner who failed to develop emotional ties with other people.
▪ economic ties Japan and South Korea have close economic ties.
▪ diplomatic ties the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries
▪ social ties Besides marriage, other social ties drew people together.
■ phrases
▪ ties of marriage/friendship/blood etc The ties of friendship that unite the two countries.
■ verbs
▪ maintain/develop ties The U.S. is committed to maintaining close ties with Europe.
▪ establish ties Israel established full diplomatic ties with the Vatican in 1994.
▪ cut/sever ties He said that he planned to sever his ties with the club.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

CLOTHES
1. (NAmE also neck·tie) a long narrow piece of cloth worn around the neck, especially by men, with a knot in front
• a collar and tie
• a striped silk tie

see also black tie, bow tie, old school tie, white tie

FOR FASTENING

2. a piece of string or wire used for fastening or tying sth

• ties for closing plastic bags

CONNECTION

3. usually plural a strong connection between people or organizations
• family ties
• the ties of friendship
• economic ties
• The firm has close ties with an American corporation.
• emotional ties
• Both sides agreed to strengthen political ties.

• Although he was raised as a Roman Catholic, he has cut his ties with the Church.

RESTRICTION

4. a thing that limits sb's freedom of action

• He was still a young man and he did not want any ties.

IN GAME/COMPETITION

5. a situation in a game or competition when two or more players have the same score
• The match ended in a tie.

compare draw n. (2)

6. (BrE) a sports match, especially a football ( soccer ) match, that is part of a larger competition

• the first leg of the Cup tie between Leeds and Roma

MUSIC

7. a curved line written over two notes of the same pitch (= how high or low a note is) to show that they are to be played or sung as one note
ON RAILWAY
8. (NAmE) (BrE sleep·er) one of the heavy pieces of wood or concrete on which the rails on a railway/railroad track are laid
Word Origin:
Old English tīgan (verb), tēah (noun), of Germanic origin.
Example Bank:
• His tie was askew and his hair dishevelled.
• His tie was undone.
• There is a strong tie between her and her daughters.
• There was a tie for first place.
• They have broken the ties that bound them.
• We have close economic ties with other countries in the region.
• We have close economic ties with our neighbours.
• a black-tie dinner
• a tie between Egypt and France
• ties of kinship
• to establish diplomatic ties with China
• He finished in a tie for 16th place, 11 shots behind the winner.
• He is aiming to be fit for the Davis Cup tie with France in February.
• It was the first leg of the Cup tie between Leeds and Roma.
• The Chair has the casting vote in the event of a tie.
• The community was bound by family ties and a strong church.
• There was a 129–vote tie between her and Alderman Scot.
• They have a second round tie away to Ipswich Town.
• They snatched a dramatic 7–7 tie with Wales in the final match.

• the ties of friendship/kinship

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

tie

/taɪ/
(ties, tying, tied)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
If you tie two things together or tie them, you fasten them together with a knot.
He tied the ends of the plastic bag together...
Mr Saunders tied her hands and feet.
VERB: V n adv/prep, V n

2.
If you tie something or someone in a particular place or position, you put them there and fasten them using rope or string.
He had tied the dog to one of the trees near the canal...
He tied her hands behind her back.
VERB: V n to n, V n prep/adv

3.
If you tie a piece of string or cloth around something or tie something with a piece of string or cloth, you put the piece of string or cloth around it and fasten the ends together.
She tied her scarf over her head...
Roll the meat and tie it with string...
Dad handed me a big box wrapped in gold foil and tied with a red ribbon.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n with n, V-ed

4.
If you tie a knot or bow in something or tie something in a knot or bow, you fasten the ends together.
He took a short length of rope and swiftly tied a slip knot...
She tied a knot in her scarf...
She wore a checked shirt tied in a knot above the navel.
VERB: V n, V n in n, V-ed

5.
When you tie something or when something ties, you close or fasten it using a bow or knot.
He pulled on his heavy suede shoes and tied the laces.
...a long white thing around his neck that tied in front in a floppy bow.
VERB: V n, V

6.
A tie is a long narrow piece of cloth that is worn round the neck under a shirt collar and tied in a knot at the front. Ties are worn mainly by men.
Jason had taken off his jacket and loosened his tie.
N-COUNT

7.
If one thing is tied to another or two things are tied, the two things have a close connection or link.
Their cancers are not so clearly tied to radiation exposure...
My social life and business life are closely tied.
= link, connect
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n, pl-n be V-ed

8.
If you are tied to a particular place or situation, you are forced to accept it and cannot change it.
They had children and were consequently tied to the school holidays...
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n/-ing

9.
Ties are the connections you have with people or a place.
Quebec has always had particularly close ties to France...
= connection
N-COUNT: usu pl, oft N prep

10.
Railroad ties are large heavy beams that support the rails of a railway track. (AM; in BRIT, use sleepers)
N-COUNT

11.
If two people tie in a competition or game or if they tie with each other, they have the same number of points or the same degree of success.
Both teams had tied on points and goal difference...
Ronan Rafferty had tied with Frank Nobilo.
= draw
V-RECIP: pl-n V, V with n
•
Tie is also a noun.
The first game ended in a tie.
N-COUNT

12.
In sport, a tie is a match that is part of a competition. The losers leave the competition and the winners go on to the next round. (mainly BRIT)
They’ll meet the winners of the first round tie.
N-COUNT

13.
your hands are tied: see hand
to tie the knot: see knot
to tie yourself in knots: see knot
see also tied, black tie, bow tie, old school tie