tie

1 /taI/ verb

1 STRING/ROPE

a) (T) to fasten one thing to another with a piece of string, rope etc: tie sth to/behind/onto etc: Tie this label onto your suitcase. | tie sb to sth: They tied him to a lamp-post and beat him up. | tie sb's hands/feet (=tie them together)

b) also tie up (T) to fasten a piece of string, rope etc around something to keep it closed or keep all its parts together: tie sth with sth: The package had been tied with strong green string.

(+ around/over/under etc): I'll just tie my hair back out of my eyes. | tie sth in bunches/bundles etc: tie the sticks up in bundles | tie your hair back (=fasten your hair to the back of your head so that it does not reach your face)

c) (T) to make a knot in a piece of string, rope etc, for example to fasten shoes or other clothes: tie sb's shoelaces: Can you tie your shoelaces by yourself? | tie a knot/bow: She pulled the ribbon tightly and tied a bow.

d) (I) to be fastened using pieces of string, ribbon (1) etc: The dress ties at the back.

2 GAME/COMPETITION also be tied (I) if two players, teams etc tie or are tied in a game or competition, they finish it with an equal number of points

(+ with): At the end of the season, we were tied with the Tigers. | tie for first/second place: Woosnam and Lyle tied for fourth place on 264.

3 be tied to

a) to be connected with something or dependent on it: The flat is tied to the job.

b) to be unable to leave the situation, place, job etc that you are in: a housewife tied to the kitchen all day

4 tie the knot informal to get married

5 tie yourself (up) in knots BrE informal to become very confused when you are trying to explain something

6 sb's hands are tied if someone's hands are tied, they cannot do what they want because of particular conditions, rules etc: Team manager, Ron Jones, would like to buy some new players, but his hands are tied at the moment.

7 tie one on AmE slang to get drunk

tie sb down phrasal verb (T)

1 to stop someone from being free to do the things they want to do: He wouldn't marry her because he didn't want to feel tied down.

2 tie yourself down (to sth) to make a promise or agreement that restricts what you do: I'm happy to do the job, but I don't want to tie myself down to a particular date.

tie in phrasal verb (intransitive + with)

1 if one idea or statement ties in with another one, it helps to prove the same thing: Marsden's conclusions tie in with our theory perfectly.

2 to happen at the same time as something else: We've planned the broadcast to tie in with the bicentenary celebrations.

tie up phrasal verb

1 PERSON (transitive tie someone up) to tie someone's arms, legs etc so that they cannot move: The intruders tied Kurt up and put him in the closet.

2 OBJECT (transitive tie something up) to fasten something together by using string or rope

3 BUSY be tied up to be so busy that you cannot do anything else: I can't see you tomorrow - I'm going to be tied up all day.

4 TRAFFIC be tied up especially AmE if traffic is tied up, it is blocked and cannot move freely

5 MONEY be tied up if your money is tied up in something, it is all being used for that thing and you cannot use it for anything else

(+ in): My money's all tied up in the house.

6 ARRANGEMENTS (transitive tie something up) to finish arranging all the details of something such as an agreement or a plan: We'd better tie up the details with a solicitor.

7 be tied up with to be very closely connected with something: Christianity in Africa is tied up with its colonial past.

8 tie up loose ends to do the things that are necessary in order to finish a piece of work: I just have to tie up a few loose ends before I go on vacation.

9 BOAT (I) to tie a boat to something: We tied up alongside a barge.

2 noun (C)

1 MEN'S CLOTHES a long narrow piece of cloth that you wear around your neck, tied in a special knot in front;

—see also: black­tie, bow tie

2 CONNECTION/RELATIONSHIP a relationship between two people, groups, or countries that connects them: close economic ties between the two countries

3 FOR CLOSING STH a piece of string, wire etc used to fasten or close something such as a bag

4 RESULT (usually singular) the result of a game, competition, or election in which two or more people get the same number of points, votes etc: end in a tie: The match ended in a tie.

5 GAME BrE one game, especially of football, that is part of a larger competition: the fourth round tie of the FA cup

6 PREVENT YOU FROM DOING STH something that forces you to stay in one place, job etc or prevents you from being free to do what you want: If you're the sort of person who enjoys travelling, young children can be a tie.

7 RAILWAY AmE a heavy piece of wood or metal supporting a railway track; sleeper (4) BrE