twine

1 of 3

noun

1
: a strong string of two or more strands twisted together
2
archaic : a twined or interlaced part or object
3
archaic : an act of twining, interlacing, or embracing
twiny adjective

twine

2 of 3

verb (1)

twined; twining

transitive verb

1
a
: to twist together
b
: to form by twisting : weave
2
a
: interlace
the girl twined her handsJohn Buchan
b
: to cause to encircle or enfold something
c
: to cause to be encircled

intransitive verb

1
: to coil about a support
2
: to stretch or move in a sinuous manner : meander
the river twines through the valley
twiner noun

twine

3 of 3

verb (2)

twined; twining

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland : to cause (one) to lose possession : deprive
twined him of his noseJ. C. Ransom

intransitive verb

chiefly Scotland : part
you and me must twineR. L. Stevenson

Examples of twine in a Sentence

Noun The package was wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. a strong piece of twine Verb (1) the snake silently twined around the tree trunk
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The parcel is tied tightly with kitchen twine and steamed for just 30 minutes, and it is meant to be unwrapped at the table. Paola Briseño-Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 String a piece of twine through the hole, hang the air freshener around your home, or give it as a gift. 14. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
Doree is lavish and royal with golden pillars and a twining wine cellar at its center. Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024 This gorgeous twining vine produces oodles of colorful blooms throughout the summer, which—if pollinated—form flattened pods that can be eaten like other green beans. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for twine 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English twin, from Old English twīn; akin to Middle Dutch twijn twine, Old English twā two

Verb (2)

alteration of Scots twin, from Middle English twinnen, from twin double

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1722, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of twine was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near twine

Cite this Entry

“Twine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twine. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

twine

1 of 2 noun
: a string made of two or more strands twisted together

twine

2 of 2 verb
twined; twining
1
a
: to twist together
b
2
: to coil or cause to coil around a support

More from Merriam-Webster on twine

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