tine

1 of 2

noun

ˈtīn 

1

: a slender pointed projecting part : prong

2

: a pointed branch of an antler

tined

ˈtīnd 

adjective

tine

2 of 2

verb

tined ˈtīnd  or tint ˈtint  ; tining ˈtī-niŋ 

transitive verb

dialectal British : lose

intransitive verb

dialectal British : to become lost

Examples of tine in a Sentence

Noun

One of the fork's tines was bent.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Press outside edges of dough to edges of baking dish and use the tines of a fork to crimp onto side of baking dish. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 16 May 2026

Trim edges if needed; seal edges by pressing with the tines of a fork. —Leah Eskin, Midwest Living, 15 May 2026

Instead, prosecutors said, a shootout between longtime gang rivals left six dead including three bystanders in the chaotic minutes after closing tine, April 3, 2022. —Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026

And presuming this is a classic dishwasher silverware basket situation, those tines just aren’t going to get consistently clean when bunched up at the bottom. —John Hodgman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tind, from Old English; akin to Old High German zint point, tine

Verb

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse tȳna to lose, destroy, tjōn injury, loss — more at teen entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for tine

• brine
• chine
• cline
• dine
• fein
• fine
• gwine
• hine
• jain
• klein
• kline
• line

Kids Definition

tine

noun

ˈtīn

: a slender pointed part : prong

the tines of a fork